Motorcyclist fatalities are a major road safety problem on Spanish roads. In 2006, 642 motorcyclists or cyclists fatalities occurred, which mean 21% of all road fatalities. More than half of them were run-offs. To address this safety issue, roadsides are equipped with so-called “Motorcyclist Protection Devices” (MPD). In 2005, the Spanish Standard UNE 135900 for the assessment of MPD was published, and Spanish National and Regional Road Administrations have been active in this field since then.

This paper describes research work aimed at improving motorcyclists’ safety from a global approach, by two main activities:​

• Upgrading the crash test procedure set by Standard UNE 135900, by implementing a new thorax injury criterion.
• Developing a methodology to recommend and warrant the installation of MPD on specific road stretches.

The implementation of a thorax injury criterion took into account the kinematics and injury causation process in the event of an impact of a motorcyclist sliding against a barrier. From the analysis of the response of bones, inner organs and vascular system it was concluded that loads measured on the vertebral column with a Hybrid III dummy are suitable to assess relevant thorax injuries. An injury criterion based on maximum vertical force measured on thorax was defined and implemented into the upgraded 135900 Standard.

The recommendations for the installation of MPD were based on analysing road sections and identifying bends with a higher risk of motorcyclist run-off collision, in order to install such devices with optimised cost effectiveness. The applied methodology comprised road inspections and epidemiological analyses in order to detect relevant risk factors.

As a result, a framework is provided that sets technical bases for the development and implementation of better motorcyclist protection devices, by assessing their performance through an enhanced standard, and by establishing scientifically–based criteria for their deployment.