Simulated crash test with helmet not properly fixed in front of schoolboys
“How to tackle motorcycle safety challenges for the next decade?” This is the question to which RIDERSCAN project will commit to give an answer.
The EU co-financed RIDERSCAN project, a European Scanning Tour for Motorcycle Safety, in fact, is aiming at taking a magnifying glass and look at Member States’ relevant expertise (motorcycling and road safety experts) to draw recommendations to improve motorcycle safety in Europe.
The safety of motorcyclists – and their protection against the risk and consequences of an accident – is a subject of paramount importance, not only for motorcyclists, but for the community in general. While the number of motorcyclist deaths has been steadily decreasing over the last two decades, the dip has been slower than for other road users, in part due to the increase in fleet size that occurred over the same time period.
The need to work on improving motorcycle safety has been recognized by the United Nations in its Declaration for a Decade of Action for Road Safety, by the OECD (2008 Lillehammer conference), by the motorcyclist community (2010 European Motorcyclists’ Forum) and by the European Commission, who committed to improve research and technical development aimed at increasing motorcyclist safety.
The RIDERSCAN project – scanning tour for motorcycle safety – is designed to address this issue, by collecting information to allow for the first time a comparison of situations, fleets, populations and policies between countries and regions across Europe.
The 3-year project was intended to gather existing knowledge, identify needs and disseminate the collected information to relevant stakeholders to promote motorcycle safety throughout Europe. It reports on areas for European action (legislation, standardization, research and political needs), but also publishes conclusions to stakeholders at national level. So doing, the project expects to foster a new dynamic among road safety stakeholders by advancing knowledge, enhancing communication and better cooperation between the various areas related to motorcycle safety.
The European Motorcyclists’ Forum is organizing the project’s last public event to present and discuss the collected information, including:
– A detailed picture of motorcycling in Europe based on the survey results of more than 10000 answers in 30 European countries (with country comparison in terms of riding habits and safety attitudes);
– Member States priorities to improve PTW safety (outcomes of in-depth interviews from 22 Member States road safety representatives);
– The results of a unique survey on ITS for motorcycling and usefulness rating by the powered two wheeler users in Europe;
– Research and data collection status in Europe, national and EU data collection needs, and proposal for improving and harmonizing accident report forms;
- Common PTW infrastructure problems and relevant European and national standards review needs.
The Forum will consist of a full day Workshop at the CEN-CENELEC premises on 2nd of February, where these important sessions are scheduled:
Knowledge – What do we know over motorcycling safety? Research status
Accessing Motorcycling – Safer and better access to Powered Two Wheelers?
Road Environment Environment – Safer roads PTWs, from design to maintenance
Safety Messages – Communicating with the riding community
Strategies – Priorities and key measures for the next decade
The following morning a Debate-Session will be held in the European Parliament.
The 2015 European Motorcyclists’ Forum is kindly hosted by the MEPs Inés Ayalá-Sender (S&D), Wim van de Camp (EPP), and the Transport Committee Vice-Chairman Dominique Riquet (ALDE) and will count on the participation of Szabolcz Schmidt (Head of the EU Road Safety Unit) and Pierre Van Eslande (Chairman of the OECD/ITF Motorcycle Safety Working Group).
The Parliament Session will discuss the outcomes of the RIDERSCAN project and the OECD/ITF report on Motorcycle Safety in the context of the Commission’s mid-term evaluation of road safety policy orientations for 2011-2020.
This event is organised by FEMA and sponsored also by FIM.
“Since its foundation FIM Europe has always given particular attention to road safety problems, both directy and through the 47 Federations that it represents and it has always seen with great favour all initiatives born to improve safety of motorcyclists on the European roads”, states Silvio Manicardi, FIM Europe Vice President. “RIDERSCAN project places itself among these iniatives and FIM Europe will be present at the Workshop and at the Debate Session in the European Parliament”.
