A prize-winning motorcycle safety project in Scotland will be shared with road safety partners around the globe.
Project PRIME saw Transport Scotland work with the Road Safety Trust, BEAR Scotland and globally recognised expert Professor Alex Stedmon to create 22 trial sites across Scotland where new road markings were installed to improve the riding behaviour of motorcyclists taking left hand bends.
The project has been dubbed a huge success and won a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in December 2023, which is presented to organisations in recognition of their outstanding contribution to improving road safety.
Transport Scotland has published a Project PRIME installation toolkit so other road authorities can replicate the project, with interest from around the UK, continental Europe and as far afield as South Africa and Australia.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “Project PRIME has clearly had a positive impact on road safety in Scotland, so I’m very proud and encouraged to see it attract interest from road authorities close to home and parties further afield. It gives international recognition to the hard work of all the partners involved.
“The award-winning project shows what can happen when academic theory is supported by real world application – all made possible thanks to Scottish engineering and a strong partnership approach.
“The Scottish Government strongly believes that one death on our roads is one too many and remains absolutely committed to working towards having the best road safety performance in the world by 2030 and an ambitious long term goal where no one is seriously injured or killed on our roads by 2050.”
Professor Alex Stedmon added: “As a psychologist and a keen motorcyclist, I am very proud to have led the research on this work. While the solution might appear simple, the science behind it is complex. With the installation toolkit we have produced, other road safety stakeholders can take the knowledge we have developed and put it into practise to help reduce motorcycle casualties on the road.
“It would not have been possible without the support and commitment of the Road Safety Trust, Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland and Open Road Simulation”
(Picture – Transport Scotland)
