[REPORT]
European Road Safety Day
A specific focus was dedicated to motorcyclists who have responded less promptly under the previous plan
The European Commission organised a Road Safety Day in Brussels on 13 October presenting the guidelines that will lead to the definition of the 4th Road Safety Action Plan for 2011-2020. Following the launch of the Road Safety Policy Orientations last July, the Commission asked for the involvement of stakeholders and citizens and invited them to contribute with proposals to the new strategies to reduce the number of road deaths on Europe's roads by half in the next 10 years. The initiatives proposed in July 2010 encompass a set of Policy Orientations ranging from setting higher standards for vehicle safety, to improving the training of road users, and increasing the enforcement of road rules.
During the conference the European Commission admitted that despite the good results of the previous Road Safety Action Plan, not enough progress was achieved in the case of vulnerable road users.
During a session devoted to motorcyclists, the Commission stated its intention to closely work with Member States, riders and the Motorcycle Industry to implement the specific measures aimed at motorcyclists.
ACEM is committed to contribute to the development of the European Commission’s Road Safety Action Programme 2011-2020
. With a reinforced advertising policy the Motorcycle Industry in Europe marked the launch of the new EU Action Plan already in July. ACEM reiterates its commitment toward road safety, ensuring that all promotion and advertisements for motorcycles, scooters and mopeds destined for use on public roads show the vehicle used in a safe and responsible manner, in order to positively influence the attitude of the rider, which is central in motorcycle safety.
The Road Safety Action Programme 2011-2020 entails seven strategic objectives:
- Improved safety measures for trucks and cars
- Building safer roads
- Developing intelligent vehicles
- Strengthening licensing and training
- Better enforcement
- Targeting injuries
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A new focus on motorcyclists.
One of the seven Strategic Objectives identified by the European Commission involves motorcyclists as research has highlighted their above average exposure to accidents. While other transport modes have shown significant decreases in fatalities and serious injuries over time, those for PTW riders have exhibited much lower decreases or remained even static.
In this context, according to the Commission, the recent EC Proposal of a new Regulation on the design of PTWs is a first step, providing for the introduction of a number of functional vehicle safety measures like e.g. mandatory fitting of Advanced Brake Systems, Automatic Headlamp On and updated anti-tampering measures, so as to ensure emissions and performance are not unduly altered) for certain categories of PTWs.
Among the other initiatives that the European wishes to adopt in the context of the 4th Road Safety Action Programme are the development of technical standards on protective equipment such as clothing, and the feasibility of equipping motorcycles with an airbag and/or including the airbag in the protective clothing.
The Commission also intends to extend EU legislation on road worthiness testing/inspections to powered two-wheelers (which does not exist at the moment) at EU level.
Although the ambitious target set in 2001 to halve the number of fatalities by 2010 has not been completely met, significant progress has been made. For example, the number of fatalities is expected to fall by more than 40% (compared to a 25% drop in the preceding decade). It also brought down the average level of road deaths per one million inhabitants from 113 in 2001 to 69 in 2009 for all current 27 Member States. This is close to the level of the best-performing Member States in 2001 (the UK, Sweden and The Netherlands with respectively 61, 62 and 66 deaths per one million inhabitants). The Road Safety Action Plan (2001-2010) was a strong catalyst for EU and national efforts to improve road safety.
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[INDEX]
YAMAHA LAUNCHES NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE
COLOGNE'S INTERMOT SHOW REPORTS POSITIVE RESULTS
FEBIAC PROMOTES MOTORCYCLING TO BEAT TRAFFIC
USA ADOPTS MARKET SURVEILLANCE MEASURES
IMMA'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE DECADE OF ACTION FOR ROAD SAFETY
ACEM's Advertising Guidelines
The advertising policy adopted by the European Motorcycle Industry ensures that all promotion and advertisements for motorcycles, scooters and mopeds destined for use on public roads show the vehicle used in a safe and responsible manner, in order to positively influence the attitude of the rider, which is central in motorcycle safety.
Aggressive riding styles, and any depiction of unsafe behaviour on public roads will be banned from ACEM manufacturers’ PR campaigns. Next to encouraging safe and responsible behaviour these measures also aim at promoting safety enhancing features such as advanced braking systems.