Skip to main content

Motorbike safety can be measured objectively, says AIT

The Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology) has developed a motorcycle probe vehicle to better understand the causes of motorbike accidents. The vehicle was deployed as a measurement method to evaluate popular motorcycle routes in Austria’s capital. Peter Saleh, road safety expert at the AIT Center for Mobility Systems, says: “Our aim is to give those who operate roads the precise information they need in order to reduce the danger in these areas efficiently,
August 30, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
The 6625 Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology) has developed a motorcycle probe vehicle to better understand the causes of motorbike accidents. The vehicle was deployed as a measurement method to evaluate popular motorcycle routes in Austria’s capital.


Peter Saleh, road safety expert at the AIT Center for Mobility Systems, says: “Our aim is to give those who operate roads the precise information they need in order to reduce the danger in these areas efficiently, sustainably and cost-effectively.”

The motorbike, a KTM 1290 Super Adventure, was equipped with high precision sensors and video systems. The side cases were packed with recording technology which documented the condition of the bike.

Test drives gathered data on vehicle dynamics, trajectory and routing. This was augmented with weather, traffic volume and route environment and then analysed through machine learning to reveal road sections which pose a risk for motorcyclists.

According to Saleh, every road section which was classed as dangerous - after being driven along and analysed - had been the site of serious accidents in the past.

“The AIT/TU Wien research team is therefore in a position to anticipate future accident trends and can assess motorcycle safety on a scientific basis, even before anything has happened,” Saleh adds.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Temporary traffic monitoring with Bluetooth and wi-fi
    May 31, 2013
    David Crawford reviews developments in temporary ITS. Widespread take-up of technologies such as Bluetooth and wi-fi are encouraging the emergence of more sophisticated, while still cost effective, ITS responses to the traffic issues posed by temporary road situations such as work zones and special events. Andy Graham of traffic solutions specialists White Willow Consulting says: “A machine-to-machine radio link is far easier and cheaper than reading characters on a plate.” There can be other plusses. Tech
  • Austrian Institute of Technology developing driver assistance systems
    October 28, 2016
    The Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) will be presenting its developments in image processing at Vision 2016, including a driver assistance system for trams and fully autonomous vehicles such as a modern drive-by-wire tractor recently which has been developed into a completely autonomous vehicle for use in special off-road scenarios.
  • Australia's ground breaking average speed enforcement
    February 1, 2012
    The speed enforcement system on the Hume Highway in Australia combines both spot and point-to-point solutions. Here, Redflex's Peter Whyte discusses its implementation. The Australian State of Victoria has achieved notable success in reducing casualty rates since launching a three-pronged road accident prevention initiative in the late-1980s.
  • Smart communities require 5G, says Samsung Electronics America
    January 11, 2019
    A community has to have 5G in order to be a smart community, which means having a regulatory environment which is conducive to investment. This was among the key messages at 5G and Self-Driving Vehicles: A Policy Roadmap at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show 2019 in las Vegas, US. John Godfrey, senior vice president, public policy, at Samsung Electronics America, said communities have a role to play in partnering with the private sector in using 5G. “A way to improve to improve the safety of s