Award-winning motorcycle safety project continues to save lives
An award-winning motorcycle safety project that was first trialled in Scotland is continuing to save lives on our trunk road network.
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.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop 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.
Road safety is a priority for the Scottish Government and its partners. Innovative schemes like Project PRIME will help us to reach our ambitious goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030.
Project PRIME partner and globally recognised expert 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 6 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.
This world‑leading project has only been possible thanks to the support of the Road Safety Trust and the commitment of Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland, and Open Road Simulation. Each partner has played a crucial role across the management, engineering and research.
Throughout Project PRIME, we have kept riders at the centre of the work. It is truly a safety solution designed for motorcyclists, and shaped by motorcyclists.
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.
Background info
- A full report of the findings of Phase Two will be published on our website in due course.
- 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.