Editor's note: This is a tad awkward to understand. It falls under, “You needed to be there.” It's a power point presentation, from Aline at FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Association), I plucked it apart to share with you. A Vision Zero concept was promoted in a European country to reduce accidents, for a one year period, to Zero. Research demonstrated that if motorcycles still shared the road it wasn't possible, so they considered a ban. FEMA went to work and created this presentation. It points out all accident avoidance issues. Check this out. It shines a new light on motorcycle safety and where efforts need to be focused.
Overview
Putting motorcycle safety into the right context
Improving motorcycle safety: key safety aspects
Motorcycle safety policies around the worldTowards motorcycle safety strategies
Putting motorcycle safety into the right context
For the debate to be balanced, it is a fundamental prerequisite to put the absolute figures within the appropriate context. It is also important to look into the causes of motorcycle accidents, in order to identify valid remedies
Motorcycling can not be made risk-free
Motorcyclists are vulnerable and have a high risk of injury (this is also true for walking or cycling).
Conclusion: No road safety initiative – whether from Governments or riders themselves – can ever make motorcycling risk-free.
Most riders are safety conscious
Most riders are fully aware of the fact that they are vulnerable road users and that motorcycling requires specific skills and a focused, alert behaviour.
Conclusion: it should not be constantly claimed that motorcyclists are a “careless” group of road users!
The extreme ‘high-risk takers’
motorcycling sometimes attracts “high risk takers” with extreme behaviour.
Conclusion: give motorcycling a bad public reputation!
Doubtful whether any road safety initiative will change the attitude and behaviour of these individuals regular motorcyclists should not have to pay the consequences of these few extremists
Motorcycle accident statistics: reliability and lack of useful data
Road safety targets should reflect casualty rates, not only casualty numbers;
Police accident reporting and discrepencies comparing data;
Need to monitor the effects of various road safety initiatives
Conclusion: Statistical information is generally a problem when talking about motorcycle safety.
Motorcycle accident research:
Motorcycle casualties are often the focus of research, with many reports highlighting the perceived risk-taking of motorcyclists and the dangerousness of motorcycles.
Conclusion: Lack of understanding of motorcycles and motorcyclists: the majority of researchers do not ride motorcycles and do not understand the social issues surrounding two wheeled transport
Accident prevention vs injury reduction?
Vision Zero’s concept = injury reduction
Always some kind of injury in a mc accident
Riders' Organisations (RO) are more focused on accident prevention than injury reduction:
good initial rider training
motorcycle awareness campaigns
predictable road infrastructure
Improving motorcycle safety: key safety aspects
Riders Associations around the world have been working at improving motorcycle safety for decades.
Their thorough knowledge of motorcycling and motorcyclists have provide them with a true expertise not to be overlooked.
The Factors In Motorcycle Accident Avoidance
Vehicle
Environmental
Social
Human:
Licensing/Education/Training/ instructor training
Crash Avoidance Skills
Braking
Hazard Awareness
Panic Management
Physical/Alcohol/Substance impairment
Personal Protective Equipment
Crash reports
Crash research
Concurrent Exposure Data Collection
Vehicle:
Brakes
Intelligent Transport Systems
Motorcycle conspicuity
Passenger/Loads
Vehicle design
Vehicle Equipment
Vehicle Modifications
Motorcycle Performance
Vehicle Safety Equipment
Environmental factors:
Road infrastructure planning
Road Hazards
Road maintenance
Other vehicle design
Traffic Management
Drivers distractions
Social factors:
Motorist awareness
Insurance/VAT incentives
Advertising
Motorcycle Magazines
Rider Peer Pressure
Statistics
Transport policies
Transportation community attitude
Motorcycle safety policies around the world
Policies based on « bikeism » and ignorance only creates resistance and counter pressure from the motorcycling community
Motorcycle Safety policies: Conclusions
Based on facts or prejudices?
Accident prevention or Injury reduction?
Positively driven or « bikeism »?
Taking into account motorcycling characteristics (in consultation with motorcyclists) or derived from car safety policies?
Are these elements linked to a Hidden ban or real consideration?
