Post by derek on Jan 6, 2013 20:34:14 GMT
Road Worthiness Testing – Rights And Responsibilities
24th December 2012
According to the latest information released by the European Commission, a recent agreement reached by ministers would substantially weaken proposed new rules by removing motorcycles and other two-wheelers from the scope of mandatory regular Road Worthiness Testing.
The Commission also suggests that the Member States are watering down the proposals which are aimed at toughening vehicle testing rules to save lives.
As previously reported, the Council of the European Union (Member States’ Government Representatives) agreed recently not to retain the Commission’s proposal to extend periodic tests to motorcycles and subsequently deleted the requirement for mandatory Road Worthiness Testing for all L3e (that’s low-performance, medium and large size) motorcycles.
Although the UK would definitely retain the MoT (the annual Road Worthiness Test) for all PTWs, motorcycle organisations in those countries where there is no Road Worthiness Testing were delighted to have this news from the European Council.
For the UK and other countries with Road Worthiness Testing for motorcycles, there was the possibility that the Commission’s proposals could have become very costly, impractical and unnecessary in the extent of the type of testing that the Commission proposed.
Motorcycle organisations from countries without Road Worthiness Testing for motorcycles voiced their displeasure throughout 2012. In response to the latest news MAG Ireland states, “This then is good news for those of us who believe the original proposals by the Commission went too far, and were put forward based on flawed evidence……” MAG Ireland states that “The EU Commission claims 8% of motorcycle accidents are the result of mechanical failures on the motorcycle. To date they have refused to provide the evidence for this claim.” Other motorcycle organisations also say that the figures from the Commission are flawed.
Even here in the UK, the Motorcycle Action Group (UK) have stated that, “The UK and other member states have “roundly ridiculed” the Commission for relying on a claim that defects were relevant in 8% of bike collisions. Claiming that, “Member states are generally very unhappy about the Commission’s failure to present evidence (either at all, or of decent quality) to justify its recent proposals.”
Vice-President Siim Kallas, the Commissioner responsible for transport said: “The agreement by Member States today is a step in the wrong direction for road safety. It removes some of the highest risk categories of users and vehicles on the road – motorbikes and older cars – from tougher mandatory vehicle checks. This is short-term thinking on the part of Member States. We cannot afford to compromise on safety and we look to the European Parliament to reinforce vehicle checks for the highest risk categories of vehicle on the road, and to save lives.”
However the Commission side stepped the issue (of data) and refers to motorcycles – (Powered Two Wheelers) as, “quite similar to a normal vehicle integrating a lot of new technologies” that would lead for consideration on the same footing as other vehicles, “in terms of regular inspections.”
Rights And Responsibilities
The comment made by the Commission’s representative at the last TRAN Committee meeting should not be put aside or treated lightly, because this underpins a discourse that has driven rider organisations over the last 40 odd years, which is to be treated equally in the transport mix.
In fact each year FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations) complains that they are not considered in the discussions on urban mobility, equally riders throughout Europe demand and expect privileged treatment by road authorities and governments based on their view that they offer a cleaner, more efficient means of transport.
Furthermore, in light of the new Type Approval regulation which will come into effect in 2016, emissions will need some form of testing in order to ensure that standards are maintained – how would these rider organisations propose to do this?
In other words, as the Commission suggests – they are normal vehicles and accordingly, they need to have the same rights and responsibilities as other vehicles e.g. cars and commercial vehicles in order to be allowed to circulate on public roads.
TRAN Discussions
As the Commission looks to the European Parliament to reinforce its proposal, the committee of MEPs representing the Parliament, TRAN (Transport and Tourism) committee, has still to make concrete moves towards a first reading by the Parliament, but the members have spoken in committee on the proposal.
The time for hype and emotional pandering, which does not cut the mustard when the case is put to the politicians and the Commission, is past. One could also argue that demos and protests by the orthodox rider organisations have left the normal motorcyclist and PTW commuter completely indifferent, considering the constant decline in membership of these organisations throughout Europe.
Opinions, even if you don’t want them!
The European procedure on proposals allows other committees to voice opinions. On the Road Worthiness Testing listed to give opinions are: the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee (which has decided not to give an opinion) – IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) chaired by Malcolm Harbour, which saw through the regulation proposal (anti-tampering) for motorcycles and in our opinion, will be interesting to read and the ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) Committee. These committees are made up of elected MEPs.
On the 12 December, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) gave its views as well.
“The Committee endorses and supports the Commission’s initiative which, the Committee fully agrees on the need to include motorcycles.
It is right that L-category vehicles be subject to periodic tests, to overcome the anomaly in many Member States where there has been no provision for testing “L” vehicles”
At Right To Ride, our next step is to see the TRAN Committee Draft Report, scheduled for publication by the 7th March, with a deadline for amendments on the 22nd March and how that will tie in with the Councils position.
View the full text of this article on the Right To Ride EU website – also available as a downloadable pdf - www.righttoride.eu/?p=10795
Issued by
Trevor Baird
24th December 2012
According to the latest information released by the European Commission, a recent agreement reached by ministers would substantially weaken proposed new rules by removing motorcycles and other two-wheelers from the scope of mandatory regular Road Worthiness Testing.
The Commission also suggests that the Member States are watering down the proposals which are aimed at toughening vehicle testing rules to save lives.
As previously reported, the Council of the European Union (Member States’ Government Representatives) agreed recently not to retain the Commission’s proposal to extend periodic tests to motorcycles and subsequently deleted the requirement for mandatory Road Worthiness Testing for all L3e (that’s low-performance, medium and large size) motorcycles.
Although the UK would definitely retain the MoT (the annual Road Worthiness Test) for all PTWs, motorcycle organisations in those countries where there is no Road Worthiness Testing were delighted to have this news from the European Council.
For the UK and other countries with Road Worthiness Testing for motorcycles, there was the possibility that the Commission’s proposals could have become very costly, impractical and unnecessary in the extent of the type of testing that the Commission proposed.
Motorcycle organisations from countries without Road Worthiness Testing for motorcycles voiced their displeasure throughout 2012. In response to the latest news MAG Ireland states, “This then is good news for those of us who believe the original proposals by the Commission went too far, and were put forward based on flawed evidence……” MAG Ireland states that “The EU Commission claims 8% of motorcycle accidents are the result of mechanical failures on the motorcycle. To date they have refused to provide the evidence for this claim.” Other motorcycle organisations also say that the figures from the Commission are flawed.
Even here in the UK, the Motorcycle Action Group (UK) have stated that, “The UK and other member states have “roundly ridiculed” the Commission for relying on a claim that defects were relevant in 8% of bike collisions. Claiming that, “Member states are generally very unhappy about the Commission’s failure to present evidence (either at all, or of decent quality) to justify its recent proposals.”
Vice-President Siim Kallas, the Commissioner responsible for transport said: “The agreement by Member States today is a step in the wrong direction for road safety. It removes some of the highest risk categories of users and vehicles on the road – motorbikes and older cars – from tougher mandatory vehicle checks. This is short-term thinking on the part of Member States. We cannot afford to compromise on safety and we look to the European Parliament to reinforce vehicle checks for the highest risk categories of vehicle on the road, and to save lives.”
However the Commission side stepped the issue (of data) and refers to motorcycles – (Powered Two Wheelers) as, “quite similar to a normal vehicle integrating a lot of new technologies” that would lead for consideration on the same footing as other vehicles, “in terms of regular inspections.”
Rights And Responsibilities
The comment made by the Commission’s representative at the last TRAN Committee meeting should not be put aside or treated lightly, because this underpins a discourse that has driven rider organisations over the last 40 odd years, which is to be treated equally in the transport mix.
In fact each year FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations) complains that they are not considered in the discussions on urban mobility, equally riders throughout Europe demand and expect privileged treatment by road authorities and governments based on their view that they offer a cleaner, more efficient means of transport.
Furthermore, in light of the new Type Approval regulation which will come into effect in 2016, emissions will need some form of testing in order to ensure that standards are maintained – how would these rider organisations propose to do this?
In other words, as the Commission suggests – they are normal vehicles and accordingly, they need to have the same rights and responsibilities as other vehicles e.g. cars and commercial vehicles in order to be allowed to circulate on public roads.
TRAN Discussions
As the Commission looks to the European Parliament to reinforce its proposal, the committee of MEPs representing the Parliament, TRAN (Transport and Tourism) committee, has still to make concrete moves towards a first reading by the Parliament, but the members have spoken in committee on the proposal.
The time for hype and emotional pandering, which does not cut the mustard when the case is put to the politicians and the Commission, is past. One could also argue that demos and protests by the orthodox rider organisations have left the normal motorcyclist and PTW commuter completely indifferent, considering the constant decline in membership of these organisations throughout Europe.
Opinions, even if you don’t want them!
The European procedure on proposals allows other committees to voice opinions. On the Road Worthiness Testing listed to give opinions are: the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee (which has decided not to give an opinion) – IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) chaired by Malcolm Harbour, which saw through the regulation proposal (anti-tampering) for motorcycles and in our opinion, will be interesting to read and the ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) Committee. These committees are made up of elected MEPs.
On the 12 December, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) gave its views as well.
“The Committee endorses and supports the Commission’s initiative which, the Committee fully agrees on the need to include motorcycles.
It is right that L-category vehicles be subject to periodic tests, to overcome the anomaly in many Member States where there has been no provision for testing “L” vehicles”
At Right To Ride, our next step is to see the TRAN Committee Draft Report, scheduled for publication by the 7th March, with a deadline for amendments on the 22nd March and how that will tie in with the Councils position.
View the full text of this article on the Right To Ride EU website – also available as a downloadable pdf - www.righttoride.eu/?p=10795
Issued by
Trevor Baird