Dangerous crash barriers to be gradually eliminated

PALMA
THE Council of Majorca and the Commission for the Protection of Motorcyclists yesterday signed an agreement with the aim of reducing the accident rate on the island.

This will be done via investments to deal with “black spots” on the main roads, the progressive withdrawal of the sharp and dangerous crash barriers and the carrying out of campaigns to promote road safety.

The agreement was signed yesterday by the President of the Council of Majorca, Francina Armengol, the Balearic Minister for Public Works, Antoni Pascual, the President of Aemot, Salvador Conudas, the President of the Balearic Motorcycle Association, Pepin Juste, the representative of the motercyclists, Ricardo Soldevilla, and the representative of Lluita Motera, Ferran del Rio.

According to Armengol, the objective of this agreement is to establish a series of activities which will be carried out with the aim of reducing the road accident rate for motorcycles and other two wheeled vehicles.

For his part, the Balearic Minister for Public Works explained that it is the Safety Commission which will plan the activities which will be carried out on the roads and at “black spots”.

He repeated that all new road works started by the Council of Majorca “are being done taking into account the crash barriers. A real effort is being made to withdraw all the dangerous crash barriers which remain on the roads”.

With regard to this, he said that the investments will also be used to deal with “black spots” and to study the application of paint to the road as, depending on what components the paint has, this can cause motorcycles to skid. “It is our object to get specific funding for this problem”, he confirmed.
For his part, Juste said that yesterday was “a very important day for motorcyclists” and thanked the Council of Majorca for their support in trying to reduce the road accident toll by taking actions which will gradually eliminate all critical points on the roads.

The agreement also mentions the development of a Correction Plan for the disputed crash barrier systems, prioritising the stretches where there is a higher concentration of motorcycle accidents.

It is also planned in the agreement that the Commission for the Protection of Motorcyclists will carry out a series of activities directed at their associates and any groups of people who use two wheeled vehicles.

These activites will involve recommending “responsible” driving and “distributing information” about the risks and the advantages of driving these types of vehicles.

A follow-up commission will be set up, with representatives from all parties to study the activities which have been undertaken.