An award-winning motorcycle safety project that was first trialled in Scotland is continuing to save lives on our trunk road network.
Project PRIME saw Transport Scotland work with The Road Safety Trust, BEAR Scotland and globally recognised expert Professor Alex Stedmon to create trial sites across Scotland where new road markings were installed to improve the riding behaviour of motorcyclists taking left hand bends.
The first phase of Project PRIME took place between 2020 and 2022, with special road markings installed at 22 sites on the trunk road network to help riders make better decisions when taking bends. The project won the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its positive impact on motorcycle safety in 2023.
Phase Two of Project PRIME ran from 2023-2025, extending the trial to a total of 35 locations to analyse over 47,000 motorcycle movements. Results show the markings continue to encourage riders to adopt better road positioning at corners. It also showed evidence of sustained behaviour change in riders over two, three and five year periods.
In addition to the positive behaviour change effects observed in the trials, the latest analysis of the Project PRIME sites shows:
- 61% reduction in annual average motorcycle injury collisions across all trial sites
- 46% reduction in annual average motorcycle collisions where someone is killed or seriously injured across all trial sites
Following the success of the trial, six local authorities in Scotland are now considering the rollout of PRIME road markings on their local road networks. Welsh authorities have installed PRIME road markings at four locations and National Highways have made representation to the Department for Transport for approval of a trial of PRIME road markings in England.
Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for transport, said: “There is no doubt the continued impact of Project PRIME is a real triumph for road safety in Scotland, showing what can be achieved when academic theory is supported by real world application.
“I’m very pleased to see the success of phase one of the project has not only continued in phase two, but it is also showing evidence of sustained behaviour change in riders.
“Motorcyclists are consistently over-represented in road casualty statistics, despite being a relatively low proportion of road users, so it is encouraging to see this trend develop over the course of the trial.”
Professor Alex Stedmon said: “This research has been an incredible opportunity to use applied psychology principles in a real‑world setting for vulnerable road users and support the largest investigation into behaviour change among motorcyclists. This work aligns closely with the Safe System. Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 and has been included in the recently published DfT Road Safety Strategy.
“Overall, I have dedicated six years to this research and, during the second phase from 2023 to 2025, I personally collected data across the Highlands’ most challenging bends. Our analyses have strengthened the evidence from the first phase of PRIME trials from 2020 to 2022, clearly showing that these new road markings positively influence rider speed, road position, and braking.”
Ruth Purdie OBE, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, said: “PRIME markings are fantastic and genuinely have the power to create lasting behaviour change in riders.
“Motorcycle deaths are still too prevalent, and riders remain vastly over-represented in statistics relating to deaths and serious injuries on our roads in the UK. That trend simply can’t continue, but PRIME markings could hold the key in making a real difference.
“The project’s inclusion in the Government’s Road Safety Strategy is testament to the excellent work of everyone involved, and I would encourage every local authority to consider implementing PRIME markings in their area.”
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