Stone mastic asphalt and the motorbike injury danger

When stone mastic asphalt (SMA) was pioneered in Holland and Germany during the 1960s it was hailed as a wonder substance. Embraced by councils and government road-building organisations, it promised to be a vital ingredient in the road surfaces of the future. Cheap and quick to lay, durable, anti-skid and with noise-softening properties, little did its proponents anticipate that its use would go on to be banned in many European countries because of concerns about its lack of grip and strong association with motorbike injuries.

SMA is still widely used in the laying of new roads in the UK, however, many within the motorcycling fraternity believe that this is something which needs to be reversed. Even the Highways Agency has expressed doubts about the safety of the substance after subjecting it to trials in the 1990s, before deciding "not to continue its use following concerns regarding skid resistance", a move which was soon overturned by the government.

Concern over car and motorbike injuries led the Irish government to ban the use of SMA in their roads and highways. A spokesperson from their National Roads Authority commented on the reasons for the ban, "When we found the skid resistance to be doubtful we simply had to go and surface dress all those roads to make them safe again. Basically, our attitude towards the material is that we still have to be fully convinced of its benefits."

The major worry over SMA concerns the length of time it takes roads using the substance to "bed-in". This means that for a long time after an SMA road has been laid, it remains smooth and unporous, lacking essential grip, particularly when vehicles are traveling at high speeds. In fact, it can take up to two years for SMA roads to bed-in and provide sufficient friction for traversing vehicles.

Even then, the outlook remains much worse for motorcycles than for other vehicles, as the areas on which they travel, such as the outer edge of the carriageway, never carry enough traffic to be sufficient worn down.

Although SMA is still widely used in the UK, its future may hang in the balance, with some people who have been injured in motorcycle accidents on SMA roads seeking to make compensation claims against the councils who have laid them.

No win, no fee solicitors who understand motorcyclists
Over the years, the team at YouClaim have developed a strong reputation for successfully representing clients in motorcycling accident claims.

The no win, no fee solicitors on our panel firms are all governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and all work on a, win or lose, no fees basis.

We believe that the claimant is the only person who should receive money in a personal injury award, that's why our no-cut commitment delivers each and every one of our clients 100% of the compensation awarded them.

To find out more about why our service is considered the best by so many, fill out an online claim form or have an electronic chat.

If you wish to speak to someone now, call 0800 10 757 95. If you would like to speak with a legal advisor directly but do not have the time right now, leave us a callback request.

Whichever method you choose, we look forward to helping you progress your motorbike injuries claim.