The main challenge for motorcyclists at intersections is motorists failing to register an approaching motorcyclist. This is often because of the small frontal aspect that a motorcyclist presents head on and other road users’ poor judgement of motorcycle approach speeds.

Treatment

: To reduce the risk to motorcyclists, clear sight distance needs to be maintained at intersections so that driver sight lines are optimized, and motorcyclists do not become ‘masked’ by roadside features. This includes restricting parking on the approaches to intersections and positioning road furniture/vegetation out of the sight triangle.

Inter-visibility between drivers and motorcyclists can be improved by the minor approach of an intersection being perpendicular to the major road. This also helps to reduce the likelihood of the view of the driver being obscured by the vehicle’s door pillar and consequently increasing the risk that the driver fails to see an approaching motorcycle.