Pioneering biker road-safety markings installed in Derbyshire
The markings encourage riders to travel through the gaps between them, helping them choose an appropriate speed and road position.
Derbyshire has become the first county in England to introduce pioneering road markings and signs designed to help motorcyclists navigate bends more safely.
Derbyshire County County is the first English highway authority to receive special authorisation from the Department for Transport to use the PRIME signs and road markings at approved locations across the county.
The first markings have been installed on the B6015 Woodhead Road at Devil’s Elbow, near Glossop, and the A6 between Buxton and Bakewell. Further approved locations across the county will follow as part of a phased programme.
PRIME stands for Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment. It uses specialist signs and a series of road markings, known as 'gateways', to provide visual guidance for motorcyclists approaching demanding bends.
The markings encourage riders to travel through the gaps between them, helping them choose an appropriate speed and road position before entering the bend and reducing the need to brake while negotiating it.
PRIME was developed and first applied on trunk roads in Scotland as part of a pioneering motorcycle safety research programme funded by the Road Safety Trust. The approach has since been introduced at 4 locations in North and Mid Wales. The Derbyshire programme is the first application of PRIME in an English county.
Derbyshire’s Temporary Chief Constable Simon Blatchly said: “I’m aware that we get motorcyclists from across the country come to Derbyshire because of our excellent road network and I’m really keen that all cyclists can get home safely after they’ve had an enjoyable ride in Derbyshire.”