Plans by the Welsh Government to trial new road markings on a major road in Powys to reduce collisions involving motorcyclists have been welcomed by the county council.
The markings, called Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment (PRIMEs), are designed to help riders make better decisions when approaching bends.
They were developed by Transport Scotland, working with BEAR Scotland and Professor Alex Stedmon, thanks to funding from The Road Safety Trust.
The PRIME markings have already transformed motorcycle safety in Scotland, where installation at 22 trial sites led to dramatic improvements in rider behaviour and safety on left-hand bends.
Powys County Council has welcomed the Welsh Government’s decision to trial the road markings at two sites following a formal request from the council earlier this year. The trials will take place on the A483 at:
- Glascoed Hall, south of Newtown
- Lower Crochan Farm, north of Llanbadarn Fynydd
The announcement comes in response to the council’s resolution in March, which called on the Welsh Government to support and fund the PRIMES initiative as part of a broader strategy to address what has been described as a “road safety crisis” in the county.
Cllr Richard Church, cabinet member for legal and regulatory services, said: “This is a vital step forward in tackling the unacceptable number of serious accidents on our roads. The PRIMES initiative is an innovative approach that we hope will make a real difference in protecting motorcyclists and all road users in Powys.”
Cllr Jackie Charlton, cabinet member for a greener Powys, added: “We’ve seen far too many lives lost or changed forever due to road traffic collisions and a large proportion of these involve motorcyclists. These trials are part of our commitment to safer, more sustainable travel in Powys. We’re pleased the Welsh Government listened to our concerns and acted on them.”
The PRIMES trial is one of several recommendations made by the Powys Strategic Road Safety Group in a report sent to the minister in 2024, which includes representatives from Powys County Council, Dyfed Powys Police, the Welsh Government, and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The group was established to identify urgent actions to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Powys roads.
A PRIMEs toolkit is available for other local authority areas considering implementing the road markings.
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