Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Wire Rope Safety Barriers WIRE ROPE SAFETY BARRIERS The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition WIRE ROPE SAFETY BARRIERS The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:09): Sir, I have a supplementary question. Was the Motorcycle Riders Association of South Australia consulted before this decision was made? The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs WIRE ROPE SAFETY BARRIERS The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:09): I am aware that some motorcyclist groups have raised concerns about the effect of wire rope safety barriers on riders. As I said, these concerns are well-known to DTEI (Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure) and road authorities interstate and overseas. However, I am advised that, in 2003, an Austroads report entitled 'In-depth investigation of run-off-road motorcycle crashes' noted that no evidence had yet been found to indicate that wire rope safety barriers present a greater or lesser risk when struck by a rider compared to other commonly used barrier types, such as rigid concrete or wire beam barriers. It is generally accepted that all types of barrier systems pose some form of risk, even when the primary objective of the barrier system is to protect road users from unforgiving roadside hazards. I am also advised that another study, comprising representatives from the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau, the Australian and the New South Wales motorcycle councils, the Motorcycle Riders Association and the Vice President of the Ulysses Club, accepted that having wire rope safety barriers in many cases is better for the riders than having no barriers at all. So, clearly, this is something of which the department and those involved in road safety are aware. However, as I have just pointed out, this is obviously an acceptable risk, if one wants to call it that. We are using them because our advice is that it is the safest option for us to do so.