Rider dies hitting wire rope barrier

A motorcyclist has been killed in a collision with a wire rope barrier, police have confirmed.

The rider struck the central reservation on A41 New Ferry by-pass, according to Merseyside Police.

A spokeswoman for the force said the barrier consisted of “posts with intertwining high-tension steel ropes”.

The force said in a statement: “The rider of a Yamaha motorcycle, travelling towards Birkenhead, collided with the central reservation, losing control of the motorcycle. As a result he sustained fatal injuries.”

Police have yet to name the rider but said he was a 44-year-old from the Wirral area. They are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which happened at around 3.30pm last Thursday.

Motorcyclists in New Zealand are campaigning for the removal of wire barriers – nicknamed cheese cutters – after a 21-year-old rider was sliced in two in October.

In December the director of the Institute of Advanced Motorists said wire rope central barriers on existing single carriageway rural roads were “precisely the sort of engineering improvement that we would like to see”.

Niel Greig added: “We’re recommending them as one possible solution to how we upgrade our roads.”

After MCN reported Greig’s comments, he issued another statement saying the IAM would “ensure that any barrier system proposed anywhere on our roads places the safety needs of motorcyclists at the top of the list”.   

Witnesses to last Thursday’s fatal crash should call Merseyside Police on 0151 777 5730.