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ACEM's view on PTW fatality statistics in Europe
Download: ACEM's view on PTW fatality statistics in Europe
In February 2006, the European Commission published the Mid Term Review Report on the implementation of the Road Safety Action Plan in which an increase of fatalities was presented in the field of motorcycle safety: ‘fatalities among motorcycle riders are among the most worrying’ and ‘some figures are alarming’.
To obtain a deeper and more up to date view on the current situation, ACEM has been collecting data and analysing the situation for EU 15, delivering the following key conclusions:
Moped safety has been improving. Between 2000 and 2004, there have been - 26% less moped fatalities, this reduction has been going faster than the decrease in the circulating park (-9.7%). When compared to the European average, high rates of fatalities per 10.000 vehicles were reported in Denmark, Greece, France, Portugal and The Netherlands. Further research is necessary to identify the causes for these higher rates and identify appropriate action.The motorcycle circulating park has been increasing by 69% between 1994 and 2004. When comparing the trend between 2000 and 2004, an increase of 21% was measured. When looking at the rate of fatalities per 10.000 registered vehicles, improvement was reported in all countries, except Italy which represents 31% of the EU 15 circulating park. The EU 15 average number of fatalities per 10.000 vehicles decreased from 4.7 in 2000 to 3.8 in 2004. In the same period, the EU 15 motorcycle circulating park has increased largely faster (+ 21 %) than the rider fatalities (+3.4 %). The countries with the lowest safety progress rate compared to the 2004 EU 15 average of 3.8 fatalities / 10.000 vehicles are Ireland, Portugal, France, UK, and Greece. Further research is necessary to identify the causes for these higher rates and identify appropriate action.
As a conclusion, the claims on motorcycle-only fatality trends as indicated in the Mid Term Review by the European Commission are in-line with results of analysis by ACEM. However, the Mid Term Review report presented only the trends of motorcyclists. The reverse and positive trends of mopeds (reduction in fatalities) were not reported. This may have led to a misleading view of all PTW safety, which is indeed improving. With this publication, ACEM hopes to provide a more detailed insight in today’s safety of Powered Two Wheelers in Europe and looks forward to working with the EC on continuing to develop further knowledge of motorcycle safety statistics in the EU 25.
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