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The Motorcycle Action Group MAG UK) and FEMA
 Over the past few months Network has had a concentration of issues regarding the work being done by FEMA and the structure/make up of the organisation.
This month we concentrate on our work with FEMA with an overview of some of the recent issues and the involvement of MAG UK in FEMA.
MAG in FEMA
Both rider organisations in the UK are represented at FEMA however this representation depends on the strength of participation within FEMA and thus has an impact on the issues within Europe and the UK.
To show examples of this I would like to concentrate on the issue of motorcycle friendly crash barriers/wire rope barriers, Daytime Running Lights and the 3rd European Driving Licence Directive, there are other issues which I will mention later and what the future holds for FEMA.
Crash Barriers
Back in 2000 the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) published the 'Final report of the motorcyclists and crash barriers project'.
This project developed recommendations to road authorities for reducing injuries to motorcyclists in collision with crash barriers. The project was supported by the Directorate General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission.
Since the report was published several national FEMA member organisations have been working with road authorities on improving existing crash barriers and adapting them to the needs of motorcyclists, but there are still difficulties and obstacles that motorcyclists' organisations encounter.
In May 2005 due to work carried out by MAG Netherlands on motorcycle friendly crash barriers and seeking a commitment from the Dutch Government on the removal of wire rope barriers, three of FEMAs National Organisations, MAG Netherlands, NMCU (Norway) and MAG UK formed a FEMA working group on crash barriers.
The group first met in the Netherlands, over a few coffees in a service station after travelling by motorcycle from their respective countries and formulated a strategy. The all day meeting resulted in the idea of producing a document with an inventory of existing motorcyclist-friendly crash barrier projects all over Europe, using information and data provided by all 22 FEMA member organisations.
After collecting all this information the FEMA Working Group produced the document, the “Road to Success” with the function as a lobbying tool for riders' right organisations in their own country. The document included conclusions and recommendations and was finished in June 2005.
The main goal of the lobby by motorcyclists will be to get motorcycles included in the European standard for testing crash barriers, hopefully forcing national road authorities to improve motorcyclists' safety by improving crash barriers.
!n July 2005 MAG UK produced its own UK document on crash barriers and started its campaign in the UK with a dedicated campaigning website.
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The picture shows the members of the Working Group in front of a motorcyclist-friendly crash barrier in the Netherlands
(from left to right): Wim Taal - MAG Netherlands, Trevor Baird - MAG United Kingdom and Morten Hansen - NMCU Norway. |
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Again in July 2005 European motorcyclists met with their elected representatives at the European Parliament for the 9th MEP Ride. The event focussed on the Third Driving Licences Directive and the Road Traffic Safety report, both which were currently being discussed within the European Parliament.
FEMA presented the “Road to Success” document on guard rails with a display of two samples of guard rails fitted with a motorcycle-friendly device. MAG was able to present its own document to UK MEPS.
In April 2006 FEMA launched an initiative with the support of Mrs Wortmann-Kool MEP, starting with event in the European Parliament which had the aim of leading to a CEN standard for crash barriers and had a secondary aim of highlighting that motorcyclists’ needs are often neglected when it comes to road infrastructure design and maintenance.
During this time work was carried out by other national organisations on crash barriers, notably in Spain and Portugal. MAG Netherlands and NMCU in Norway continued to have success ion the Netherlands and in the UK sections of motorcycle friendly crash barriers started to appear.
The issue was brought forward at a European level through the TRANS Committee in the European Parliament. MAG UK with MAG Netherlands and FEMA Representatives attended the committee meetings and corresponding and meeting MEPS at their offices in the European Parliament.
Finally, well almost, in January this year FEMA was granted the liaison status with the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) Technical Committee (TC) 226 "Road equipment" as representative of motorcycle riders.
Because of experience based on numerous accidents reported by its members (where guardrails did cause more severe injuries to the rider), FEMA is in a position to contribute to achieving the best possible performance requirements for standards in this field. FEMA will particularly follow the work of WG 1 “Crash barriers, safety fences, guard rails and bridge parapets”.
Concurrent with its access CEN standardization working group, FEMA is being involved in APROSYS - an Integrated European research project on advanced protection systems – in developing a new test procedure for motorcyclist-road-infrastructure interaction. Guidelines to design motorcyclist friendly roadside infrastructure should be one of the expected results of the sub-group dedicated to motorcycle safety.
FEMA will also be involved somewhat in the development of a “motorcycle” crash test dummy, previous dummies were adapted from car use and do not reflect the reaction or data needed to be collected in motorcycle crashes.
DRL (Day Time Running Lights)
Another issue that MAG has worked hard within FEMA is that of DRL (Day Time Running Lights).
In November 2006 MAG submitted a response to the European Commission’s consultation paper on DRLs.
FEMA also submitted a paper to the EU Commission and through the UN (United Nations) working party as representative of the International Co-operation Fund.
“The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), the Motorcycle Riders' Foundation (MRF), the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) have set up an International Co-operation Fund with the objective of ensuring an efficient representation of motorcyclists at the United Nations where Worldwide Standards for Bikes and road safety measures are developed.”
FEMA’s response to the European Commission consultation on Daytime Running Lights summarized motorcyclists’ concerns about DRL, synthesize studies against the introduction DRL, propose a different approach to road safety debate, and finally define and explain its position statement opposing EU harmonization in this matter. MAG UK’s then Research Officer analysed data from European countries to identify discrepancies in casualty statistics in countries applying DRL legislation compared to other that do not.
As the MAG UK representative I attended a seminar in Brussels in late 2006, organised by Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) following the close of the EC consultation on DRL. The seminar brought together the various stakeholders to discuss facts and views on the mandatory fitting of DRL across Europe to all vehicles.
Along with FEMA representatives the MAG UK representative was able to speak during the debate, with the motorcycle aspects covered by the FEMA representatives. The MAG UK representative concentrated on calling for car manufacturers to take responsibility for the bad design of car A-Pillars that hide motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians; not to rely on gimmicks like DRL and called on the FIA or its Foundation to spend its time and effort on motorcycle awareness programmes for car drivers.
As FEMA pointed out: “Representatives of FEMA and MAG UK, very concerned by the EC’s intention to introduce compulsory DRL for all vehicles throughout Europe, challenged the road safety benefits of DRL, questioning the validity of the research on which the European Commission’s proposal was based and sought reassurance that the consultation process within the European Union would not be negated by decisions taken at the United Nations.
What we are talking about is Daytime Running Lights (DRL) which is basically a separate lighting system, normally fitted in the vehicle’s original headlights and of low intensity wattage or candela (power output) by the vehicle manufacturer or as an aftermarket part.
We are not talking about AHO (Automatic Headlights On) which is presently “fitted” to the majority of motorcycles by motorcycle manufacturers and has been voluntary since 2001. The headlights are automatically switched on with the ignition and do not have an off/sidelight/on/ switch fitted in the handle bar switch gear.
Since this meeting FEMA is discussing its strategy and one of the main concerns that the issue will be moved from the European Institutions and Parliament to the UNEC UN-ECE’s Transport Division. Basically from a “democratic” decision through consultation to a technical regulation, which must be adapted by European member states, by bureaucrats, Government Officials and safety experts.
Third European Driving Licence Directive
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Sir Robert Atkins MEP, Trevor Baird, Philip
Bradbourn MEP (Picture by Wim Taal) |
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A major issue tackled by MAG over two years both in the UK and naturally in Europe through FEMA.
I will make no apologies here but MAG UK led the campaign in the UK and pushed the campaign within FEMA with other member organisations such as MAG Netherlands, NMCU Norway and SMC Sweden.
The campaign lobbied and campaigned in the EU Parliament, in the UK Parliament with MEP’s and MP’s over the two years.
MAG UK was part of meetings held in the UK with government officials on the implementation of the directive in the UK.
MAG was instrumental in the organisation of the demonstration in Brussels and organised the UK demonstration in July 2006 attended by over 1,000 riders.
MAG UK representative attended TRANS Committee meetings in the EU Parliament and secured the support of Conservative MEPs.
During this time MAG Representatives were also present on the discussions and vote on the “Road Safety Action Programme” (RSAP) which has the objective of reducing by 50% the number of fatalities on the road by 2010.
Our main concerns was that for motorcycling it was important to look into the causes of motorcycle accidents, in order to identify valid remedies and that motorcycling was not treated to bias by legislators and decision makers. MAG UK assisted in writing the FEMA response to the RSAP.
Right up to the final vote in the EU Parliament in Strasbourg MAG UK campaigned, with a final joint press release with the Conservatives in Europe and MAG Sport rider, 15 year old, Alex Gault’s case study on what the directive would meant for a new and young rider – motorcyclings’ future.
Unfortunately despite the effort on the 14th December 2006 the European Parliament voted in favour of the 3rd European Driving Licence Directive.
However due to this rigorous lobbying and campaigning in Europe and the UK the UK Government at that time stated that they would consult with motorcycle representatives, to deliver the motorcycle aspects of the directive in the UK.
In May this year MAG UK attended a stakeholder event regarding the implementation of the directive in 2013.
The event was intended to “kick off” a process of informal discussions over a period of 15 to 18 months before a formal consultation on options on implementing the directive in the UK. Attending from the European Commission was Alexander Von Campenhausen.
Worrying was the Commission’s representative comment that the power of bigger motorcycles made them more dangerous, a position repudiated by MAG UK and FEMA.
Overall because of MAG UK’s involvement, in all aspects of the directive in Europe over two years, we would like to think that the situation that we are now at in the UK, with the consultation on implementing the directive in the UK, reflects MAG UK’s commitment to the issue.
Forthcoming Issues
FEMAs full time employees, Aline Delhaye, (General Secretary) and Virginie Peters (Campaign Officer) based at the FEMA Offices in Brussels keep FEMA member organisations fully briefed on the issues and there is a constant request for information with regards to national issues that reflect on European issues and vice versa.
Issues that are on the agenda are:
Forthcoming MEP Ride in Strasbourg: The main themes for this year’s ride will focus on the EU Commission Green Paper on Urban Transport, which will be adopted in autumn, and FEMA revised Agenda on Motorcycle Safety.
Due to the recent decisions taken at the European Parliament – FEMA will also concentrate on the Directive Infrastructure which is being re discussed in the TRANS Committee as the committee has initially rejected the document but certain parts beneficial recommendations for motorcycling.
MAG UK will be lobbying MEP’s and representatives will be attending the ride.
An issue that MAG representatives have brought up has moved forward regarding FEMA’s external communications to politicians and EU Institutions, this will include the relaunch of FEMA’s newsletter which will be available to members and affiliated clubs, allowing riders to have an “eye” on the issues.
The Future
FEMA is moving from strength to strength and the future for riders’ representation in Europe is looking bright.
The FEMA secretariat or to be more precise FEMA’s General Secretary – Aline Delhalye, Campaigns Officer – Virginie Peters, Administration Officer - Christina Gesios continue to represent riders’ interests to the fullest extent in Europe and providing knowledge on the issues that ultimately affects motorcycling in the UK.
Joining the “team” is Elaine Hardy as FEMA’s Research Officer, Elaine was until recently MAG UK’s Research Officer. As FEMA's Research Officer, her task is to actively involve FEMA in EU (European Union) research projects. The aim of this involvement is to strategically place FEMA within these EU projects to ensure that the views of riders are considered and respected.
The objective is to position FEMA as a leader of the motorcycle research community and as a point of reference within the EU institutions.
Perhaps part of this involvement should be to “educate” individuals regarding motorcycles within these research projects, for example did you know that a motorcycle has a “steering wheel”.
We could sit back and just let them get on with the work but we need their support as much as they need ours.
MAG UK
MAG UK is planning to host the FEMA “spring” meeting in 2008. Next year will be the 20th Anniversary of FEM/FEMA and some special events are being planned to celebrate this, which includes the resigning of FEMA European Riders Charter.
MAGs participation and presence at FEMA has been constant since its formation in 1997 and before this through FEM which MAG was instrumental in setting up in 1998.
Although we work hard within FEMA we need the support of our members, both full and affiliated clubs.
Membership of MAG UK helps fund FEMA, this gives a gateway to FEMA to utilise our membership to lobby our representatives in the European Parliament and shows a strong and united organisation in Europe.
MAG UKs strong participation in FEMA also gives a gateway to European riders’ organisations and their expertise to formulate motorcycling issues.
Trevor Baird
Public Affairs Director MAG UK
Tel: +44 (0)1788 570065
Fax: +44 (0)1788 570052
Email public-affairs@mag-uk.org
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