THE INFLUENCE OF TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE ON RIDING A MOTORCYCLE

DE INVLOED VAN HET TYPE WEGDEK OP HET RIJGEDRAG VAN MOTORRIJDERS

A possible method to prevent aquaplaning is to provide road surfaces with longitudinal grooves. In the present study the influence of such grooves on the riding behaviour of motorcyclists compared with other types of road surface was investigated. In the first part of the study a grooved curve was compared with a roughened curve and a roughened straight section of the tunnel road. It turned out that, comparatively, riding a motorcycle on the grooved surface resulted in less aquaplaning. The second part of the study aimed to incorporate these results into a broader context. Therefore, normal asphalt and cobbles were also taken into consideration, together with a road provided with grooves of alternative dimensions (smaller and less widely spaced). The overall results seem to justify the following conclusions: surface treatments such as "grooving" or "roughening" may influence the riding behaviour of motorcyclists. In particular, grooves of critical dimensions, such as those in the y-river tunnel, may have a large effect on motorcycle riding. Groove dimensions seem to be very critical with regard to their effects on the riding behaviour of motorcyclists, in that smaller and less widely spaced grooves hardly show an effect. Detailed analysis is needed of the process in the contact area between tyres and road surface. Types and specifications of both have to be taken into consideration. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  TNO INSTITUTE FOR PERCEPTION

  KAMPWEG 5, PO BOX 23
  SOESTERBERG,   Netherlands  3769 ZG
• Authors:
  • Blaauw, G J
  • Godthelp, J
• Publication Date: 1977

Language

• Dutch

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 65 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aquaplanes; Asphalt; Behavior; Drainage; Driving; Handling characteristics; Highway design; Hydroplaning; Interviewing; Motorcycles; Motorcyclists; Pavement grooving; Prevention; Rolling contact; Roughness; Safety; Smoothness; Surface course (Pavements); Surface treating; Test procedures; Tunnels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Longitudinal
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands
• Old TRIS Terms: Grooves
• ITRD Terms: 1661: Accident prevention; 3012: Aquaplaning; 9001: Behaviour; 2937: Drainage; 3071: Evenness; 3020: Grooving; 9147: Interview; 9039: Longitudinal; 1752: Motorcyclist; 8078: Netherlands; 6288: Test method; 3374: Tunnel; 1646: Vehicle handling
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00170314
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1978 12:00AM