From Europe

Concern that bikes aren't visible enough has prompted The European Commission (EC) to launch a research project. This was the subject of a preliminary meeting held on October 12th and organised by ACEM (European Motorcycle Manufacturers' Association). FEMA was present, other participants included experts from a number of research authorities and institutes with motorcycle safety interests.

The outline of this project will be to identify what makes motorcycles less conspicuous and how they can be overlooked. When the cause has been identified, potential devices or measures will be proposed and their effects measured with a methodology developed in the same project. The feasibility of implementing such measures will then be assessed in terms of acceptance by the market, reliability and costs. The final step will be to verify the cost-effectiveness of the proposed solutions and assess introduction schemes.

MAG opposes the introduction of mandatory daytime headlight use by motorcyclists on the grounds that such measure reflects a poor understanding of the problem and represents an unfair shift in the onus of responsibility from motorist to rider.

MAG believe that the solution to the 'didn't see you' accidents lies in the exercise of greater care by all parties.

MAG Press Officer Ian Mutch: 'We fear that the boffins may be looking at more ways to make names for themselves with costly research and repressive legislation when a little common sense is all that is required.'

The European Commission (EC) has decided to bring Spain before the Court of Justice because it considers that the absolute ban which that country has imposed on motorcycles towing trailers is an unjustifiable barrier to the free movement of goods and persons between Member States.

The EC, while sharing the Spanish authorities' concern for road safety, which was cited as justification for the ban, considers that road safety can be achieved by measures which are less trade-restrictive. For example, other Member States impose maximum speed limits on motorcycles with trailers or set maximum trailer dimensions or weight limits on the load which the trailers may carry.

FEMA's note: "After Denmark, where the "trailer" ban was lifted in June 1998 thanks to the efforts of FEMA and action from the European Union, Spain is the only country imposing this ban to motorcyclists, Spanish or foreigners. This causes a lot of problems for many touring motorcyclists with trailers who are travelling between southern countries, all which allow trailer use."

For more information about the court case, please contact:
Carlos Gimeno Verdejo, MARKT D-2
Tel: +32 (0)2 295 8759, Fax: +32 (0)2 299 3098
E-mail: Markt-D2@cec.eu.int

Source: Newsletter of the Internal Market DG "Single Market News" 23 rd October 2000

Earlier this month, FEMA attended a consultative meeting on a European Commission's (EC) project proposal on advanced driver/rider training. This project fits into the development of a Fourth European Driving License Directive and the EC commitment to the "lifelong learning process". The meeting was organised by CIECA (International organisation of driving license examining authorities).

FEMA, whilst not questioning the value of such training schemes, expressed serious reservations about the EC focussing on experienced rider training while there were still so many problems with basic rider training in Europe. Another concern for motorcyclists is that these follow-up training schemes could become compulsory, as it is already the case in Luxembourg. FEMA is clearly against the implementation of such arrangements for Europe. And, last but not least, the EC is again dealing with both cars and bikes together in this project, which could result in the specific needs of riders being overlooked.

The parties present at the meeting will be invited to take part in the different stages of the project. FEMA will be looking at this very closely and try to make sure that motorcyclists' concerns and needs are understood and accepted