ANCMA and FMI will organise free training sessions in Italy as part of Refresh project in January 2016
As part of their Refresh project, ANCMA-Confindustria, the Italian Association of Manufacturers of Bicycles, Motorcycles and Accessories, and the Italian Motorcycle Federation (FMI) will organise free training sessions in Italy as of January 2016.
The project, whose first training sessions were already organised on 8 and 9 October 2015, is specifically designed for riders who are returning to motorcycling after an extended period of time. Evidence suggests that riders that stopped riding for a prolonged period can develop a false sense of security and, as a result, are more likely to be involved in accidents.
The Refresh initiative also aims at improving the riding skills of people who ride motorcycles of up to 125cc using their B license.
This safety-oriented trainign scheme will help both types of riders to to gain a better understanding of the specificities of motorcycle riding and to improve their risk awareness skills.
A theoretical and practical approach to motorcycle training
The first training sessions of Refresh were organised on 8 and 9 October and were delivered by qualified instructors from the Italian Motorcycle Federation at the Monza motorsport circuit.
The training covered both practical and theoretical aspects of motorcycle riding. The former included elements such as risk perception, vehicle passive safety features and vehicle maintenance. The latter allowed participants to practice different exercises such as avoidance of sudden obstacles, emergency braking techniques, braking with and without ABS, etc.
This allowed participants to increase their riding and risk awareness skills, within a secure and controlled training environment.
A scheme supported by public and the private actors
This important initiative is by ANCMA-Confindustria and by the Italian Motorcycle Federation (FMI) in order to improve the safety of moped and motorcycle users, which are considered by the EU as vulnerable road users.
The project, which is part of the implementation of ACEM’s road safety strategy, also benefits from the support of the Italian Ministry of Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Documents available to download
PRESS RELEASE - Refresh project - launch.pdf [0.21 MB]
PRESS RELEASE - Refresh project - first two trainings.pdf [0.21 MB]
Powered-two and three-wheeler registrations increase by 4.2% on a year-on-year basis
A total of 901,552 powered-two and three-wheelers were registered during the first eight months of 2015 in the EU. This represents an increase of 4.2% compared to the 865,564 vehicles registered during the same period of 2014.
Registrations performed positively in Spain (102,358 units, +20.4%), the UK (80,639 units, +13.3%), Italy (151,374 units, 5.7%), and Germany (145,257 units, +0.8%). They decreased in France (173,711 units, -2.5%).
Motorcycle registrations
Cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by 10.2% during the first eight months of 2015 on a year-on year basis. A total of 676,842 motorcycles were registered between January and August 2015, against 613,945 during the same period of 2014.
Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in all key European markets, namely Spain (91,683 units, +22.%), the UK (74,527 units, +15.9%), Italy (133,588 units, +9.1%), Germany (127,196 units, +7.3%), and France (114,396 units, +0.9%).
Moped registrations
A total of 224,710 mopeds were registered during the first eight months of 2015 in the EU, whilst 251,619 mopeds had been registered during the same period of 2014. This represents a decrease of 10.7%.
Registrations increased in Spain (10,675, + 8.0%), although they decreased in France (59,315 units, -8.6%), the UK (6,112 units, -11.3%), Italy (17,786 units, -14.3%) and Germany (18,061 units, -29.4%).
Documents available to download
ACEM - Statistical press release - August 2015.pdf [0.27 MB]
“Watch for two-wheelers”, says ANCMA-Confindustria in new road safety campaign
ANCMA-Confindustria, the Italian Association of Manufacturers of Bicycles, Motorcycles and Accessories, presented a new road safety campaign “Watch for two-wheelers” (“Occhio alle due ruote”) on 6 October 215.
This initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of sharing the road with two-wheeled vehicles (bicycles, scooters and motorcycles), as well as to inform public debate on road safety in Italy.
To encourage car users to watch for two-wheelers, special stickers will be distributed to providers of car-sharing services and taxi drivers. The stickers will serve as a reminder of looking for bicycles, motorcycles and scooters on the road before opening car doors.
This initiative, which is part of ACEM’s road safety strategy, will involve car sharing companies in the municipality of Milan and the Metropolitan City (car2go, Enjoy, E-Go Lead me, Twist and Share'nGo) as well as the company MyTaxi.
The campaign is placed under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the government of the city of Milan and counts with the support of the Italian Foundation for two-wheelers.
“Watch for motorcycles”… in social networks and EICMA
The campaign "Watch for two-wheelers" includes the creation of the website www.occhioalle2ruote.it where it is possible to find information on safety rules, road safety tips and other materials. You can learn more about this campaign on the Facebook page Occhioalle2ruote and on Twitter via the hashtag #occhioalle2ruote.
Road safety will also be one of the key themes of the EICMA motorcycle show which will run from 17 until 22 November 2015 in Milan, Italy.
Documents available to download
The photos of ACEM's 2015 annual conference are now available online. Take a look!
You did not manage to attend our 2015 conference? You can still take a look at some of them below and on our Flickr page...
Playing a part in the sustainability of transport. How new vehicle technology has helped meet emission standards
Motorcycles, mopeds, tricycles and quadricycles sold in the EU comply with strict limits on tailpipe emissions and other pollution sources of the vehicle, such as evaporative emissions from the fuelling system. This has been made possible by steady progress in vehicle technology, which has helped meet progressively tighter emission standards as European rules have developed.
The implementation of European environmental standards, usually referred to as ‘Euro’ standards, is a highly technical and complex process, which involves extensive research and data analysis, and requires close cooperation between public authorities and industry.
To this end, ACEM is actively engaged in a constructive dialogue with key stakeholders including the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The motorcycle industry advocates for standards that protect the environment and consumers, and are also technically attainable and economically viable.
Documents available to download
Motorcycles become part of the connected vehicle world thanks to BMW Motorrad, Honda and Yamaha
BMW Motorrad, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. are now collaborating to enhance Cooperative-Intelligent Transportation Systems (C-ITS) applications in powered two-wheelers (PTWs) and working together to establish a consortium named Connected Motorcycle Consortium.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed by all ACEM manufacturing members in 2014, C-ITS features will be introduced from 2020 onwards. In order to accelerate this process, the three manufacturers will begin their cooperation in the field of C-ITS now.
Promoting ITS deployment through better cooperation
The new cooperation was announced on October 6th 2015 at the ITS World Congress in Bordeaux (France), the world’s largest event for intelligent transport systems and services. The three partners also encouraged other motorcycle manufacturers to join the consortium so as to further increase safety in powered two-wheelers. “In order to speed up more motorcycle-specific safety developments, we intend to cooperate to promote a successful implementation of C-ITS in motorcycles and scooters,” says Mr Tetsuo Suzuki, Operating Officer at Honda Motor Co., Ltd..
Mr Takaaki Kimura, Chief General Manager of Technology Center and Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Yamaha Motor Co.Ltd. adds: “Our companies are already active members of the Car2Car Communication Consortium, in which we work with car and truck makers and other stakeholders on common specifications and standards. We came to realize that the specific requirements of motorcycles are beyond the scope of this consortium, however. The next logical step is to enter into a cooperation dedicated solely to the challenges relating to powered two-wheelers.”
“Our aim is to promote a timely and comprehensive use of cooperative ITS systems in powered-two wheelers offering the potential to improve safety. We therefore encourage other companies to join us,” explains Prof. Dr. Karl Viktor Schaller, Executive Vice President Development BMW Motorrad.
Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, stated: “This initiative is fully in line with the ACEM road safety strategy and shows the willingness of the motorcycle industry to increase safety for riders based on very concrete and practical developments.”
Increasing safety levels for motorcyclists
ITS technologies will contribute to motorcycle safety If well considered and properly deployed, ITS technologies offer the potential to further increase safety, security and efficiency in all transport systems, in particular for motorcycles. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) require the integration of information and communications technology including transport infrastructure, vehicles and users.
Basic applications currently exist in GPS navigation systems, where real-time traffic information is provided such as rerouting advice based on traffic jams ahead. For road transport in particular, interoperable networked wireless communication between vehicles can enable road users to make coordinated and informed decisions about their route as well as allowing safer manoeuvring in busy urban environments.
ITS technologies are expected to generate particular safety benefits in regard to powered two-wheelers (PTWs), not least by offering a level of electronic communication which can be shared between riders and drivers of other road vehicles. The three companies have already gained experience of connected vehicle technology in several European field tests.
Together with car makers and major suppliers, BMW Motorrad participated in the simTD project, a large scale field test carried out on connected vehicles in the greater Frankfurt area in Germany. Honda and Yamaha participated in DRIVE C2X, a Europe-wide ITS field test project. In view of the challenges experienced in these real world tests, the three manufacturers are now joining forces to evaluate the principles of cooperative intelligent transportation systems (C-ITS) to enhance motorcycle safety.
ACEM 2015 report now available online
The 2015 ACEM report is now available in full online. The study examines in detail the state of the L-category industry in the EU.
It includes detailed figures on registrations of powered-two- and powered-three wheelers in EU and EFTA countries, manufacturing in the EU, and international trade, among others.
As highlighted in the report, the European market for powered-two and three-wheelers increased by 2% between 2013 and 2014. It is the first time that registrations increase since the beginning of the economic and financial crisis in 2008.
The report also examines the importance of a wide range of European policies for the sector, including transport, road safety, industrial and international trade policies.
Moreover, the ACEM 2015 report provides concrete and actionable recommendations for policy-makers and regulators at European, national and local level to reap the societal benefits of motorcycling.
Documents available to download
La Gazzetta dello Sport - Occhio a ciclisti e motociclisti quando si apre la portiera
Una campagna sui social a cui parteciperanno volti noti della Tv e dello spettacolo, una sensibilizzazione attraverso le auto in sharing e uno spot sulle principali reti televisive italiane: con questa strategia Ancma, la Confindustria della moto, vuole promuovere la campagna di sicurezza stradale “Occhio alle due ruote”, presentata oggi a Milano, che si inserisce nel progetto Road Safety Strategy promosso da Acem, l’analogo di Ancma a livello europeo... Continue reading in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Link to the article
La Gazzetta dello Sport - Occhio a ciclisti e motociclisti quando si apre la portiera