AQW 33905/11-15

Mr Sammy Wilson
Democratic Unionist Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 04/06/2014
Answered On Date: 18/06/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Regional Development whether his Department plans to install non-slip manhole covers in order to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents.

Answer:

All manhole covers installed on the public road network should meet the requirements of European Standard BS EN 124, which stipulates minimum standards for strength and skid resistance.

In addition, during the development of the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy to 2020, it was recognised that motorcyclists have particular road safety issues that needed to be addressed. One of these was riders sliding on wet and worn manhole covers.

A series of Action Measures has been developed targeting the motorcycling road user group. Amongst these will be the development of a motorcycle strategy, being taken forward by the Department of the Environment, to investigate the issue of manhole covers and propose solutions in areas where this is a problem.