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EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY UNVEILS ITS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PLAN FOR ACTION ACEM, (Association of Constructors of European Motorcycles) the motorcycle industry in Europe has today (November 24th 2004) unveiled its Plan for Action which aims developing an integrated European safety policy for motorcycling. The European motorcycle industry is undertaking key initiatives in support of the European Commission’s initiative to reduce road deaths by 50% by 2010. Today’s announcement of The Plan for Action, the industry’s strategy for reducing Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) casualties is a significant step towards this aim. The Plan For Action has been developed from the key findings of the MAIDS Report – the Motorcycle Accident In-Depth Study. MAIDS is the most significant in-depth accident study for many years and the industry will today be formally publishing it alongside the Plan For Action. The Motorcycle Industry with the support of the European Commission and other partners conducted the MAIDS study to understand and further improve the safety of Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs). The MAIDS research has shown that there are many different aspects to the issues faced by stakeholders in relation to PTW safety. Effective motorcycle safety strategies will require efforts by many different groups at many different levels. The following actions are proposed, based upon the analysis of the MAIDS report so far: - ACEM strongly supports the stepped licensing system as set out in the current Directive 91/439/EC as amended by Directive 2000/56/EC. - ACEM promotes the introduction into the practical examination of skills which address hazard awareness and loss of control while executing emergency manoeuvres. - ACEM will look at ways in which the best practice in terms of awareness-raising campaigns and specific training schemes for Other Vehicle (OV) drivers can be shared. ACEM will discuss this with the European Commission, the national authorities, the car industry and other stakeholders. - All vehicle operators should continuously be made aware of the increased risk associated with alcohol intake. ACEM will support activities and alcohol awareness campaigns developed by riders organisations and authorities. - ACEM has identified PTW conspicuity as an important item in the PTW safety debate and is fully committed to further improve the possibility for other road users to correctly detect PTWs on the road. The current on-going research may lead to on-vehicle improvements in the future. The longer-term Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) efforts will explore how to cooperate with the car and component industry, among others in the context of the e-Safety Forum initiative. - ACEM is committed to study the MAIDS database in more depth in the near future in order to understand the PTW tampering and modification situation better in general and to understand the effect of tampering and modification on safety in particular. - The ACEM member manufacturers commit themselves to progressively increase the number of PTWs with advanced braking systems on the market, so that by 2010 the majority of newly sold street models on the European market will have advanced braking systems, at least as an option. - In co-operation with helmet, PTW manufacturers and the riders organisations, ACEM is ready to support public awareness and education campaigns to emphasize the importance of using helmets and helmet retention systems properly for head protection and in order to avoid helmets coming off during an accident. - ACEM will analyse the MAIDS database in order to improve the industry''s understanding of the critical criteria to be considered in airbag research. - ACEM will monitor and enjoin the debate on e-safety initiatives closely and will verify, in due time, the potential of having such systems also on PTWs, as an aid to riders in post-crash situations. - ACEM will study ways to bring best practice knowlege together for discussion with (local) road and traffic authorities, and will seek means of raising the awareness of road engineers to accommodate the specific requirements of PTW riders. - ACEM envisages doing additional investigations into those MAIDS cases that involved roadside barrier collisions.
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