European Commission: ‘No Intelligent Speed Assistance for motorcycles’


by Wim Taal

On FEMA’s request, the European Commission replied to the rumours of the introduction of speed limiters on motorcycles.

After the news broke in April 2019 that ‘Europe’ wants overridable Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) for cars, we quickly noticed that a large part of the automotive and motorcycle press described the overridable intelligent speed assistance as “speed limiters for cars and motorcycles”. This is not correct.

Ms Róża Thun, the member of the European parliament who steered this legislation through Parliament, clearly stated “We do not introduce a speed limiter, but an intelligent system that will make drivers fully aware when they are speeding”, but some journalists kept insisting that Europe was about to make speed limiters on bikes mandatory.

To clarify this matter once and for all, FEMA wrote an official letter to Matthew Baldwin, the Deputy Director-General for Mobility and Transport and European coordinator for road safety and sustainable mobility. In our letter we voiced our concerns about possible ISA on motorcycles and we made the point that no technological developments regarding a possible improvement of road safety should be implemented without proper consultation of motorcyclists. We stressed the fact that certainly a measure like ISA should not be implemented without first clearly establishing the need for introduction on motorcycles.

In our letter we also invited the European Commission to confirm that the new regulations do not concern motorcycles and that a possible future regulation will not affect speed either by braking or by reducing engine power and will be tested to guarantee the safety of the motorcyclists.

Matthew Baldwin promptly replied to FEMA’s letter and addressed the motorcyclists’ concerns: “You mention some information circulating in the media to the effect that Intelligent Speed Assistance will be required for motorcycles. This is certainly not true. As you are aware, motorcycles are not within the scope of the General Safety Regulation and the Pedestrian Safety Regulation.”

In his letter, Matthew Baldwin also states: “Even if the Commission were eventually to make a proposal making, ISA systems mandatory for motorcycles, this would require an impact assessment and a cost-benefit analysis. This evaluation would take into account the specificities and needs of these vehicles and the paramount need for the safety of riders.”

Click here for the full letter from FEMA to the European Commission.

Click here for the full answer from the European Commission.

Please follow and like us:
Pin Share

Weekend Round-Up for June 17, 2019

It’s nuts. We finally finished the fiberglass top of the Salt Torpedo, sorta. I still needed to build the parachute box and fix some pieces in the bottom. There’s always something else.

I attempted to take the top to Aircraft Windshields on Friday, but I also needed a trailer hitch on the new 5-Ball van. The U-Haul appointment went late, and I didn’t make it in time. Will haul the body over there today. I’m keeping my fingers crossed they can help with the canopy and more fiberglass advice.

Need to take hinge possibilities from Speedway racing to discuss with them.

I could have installed the trailer hitch myself, but… I ended up rewiring part of the trailer hitch system. They needed a wiring system for a high-top van. The clerk stretched the wires to make it work. A mat arrived for the back of the van and I shifted gears to install it.

I made gussets for the Torpedo roll bar and pondered the lead shot in the tubes. I’m ordering some 1-inch ball bearings to act as the dams inside the tubes which will be pinned to keep from moving.

I started MIG welding tabs and brackets for the battery, the belts and I made body tabs for the body top and welded them in place.

I took Cash for a walk down to the Pot shop to buy some CBD cream. For some reason the arthritis in my hands is killing me. Makes turning a wrench painful. We live in the Port of Los Angeles ghetto. There’s a homeless encampment up the street and we had to walk around it. The street is full of trash. It’s legal in Los Angeles for homeless people to litter, destroy your property, break into your car or piss on the sidewalk… It’s all your fault because you work hard, pay taxes and could buy a home or pay the rent.

I’ll work with Andrew Monday afternoon on final welding. Then the firewall must be started before we can paint and start final assembly.

I watched the recent movie Kon Tiki about a bunch of young guys just after WWII who proved that Polynesians originated in the east from Peru by floating on a massive wooden raft for 101 days northeast towards the Galapagos then turning east directly at Polynesia. An amazing voyage.

Later this week Michael Lichter is coming to town with his son, Sean for Born Free. I heard rumors about closing Easyriders and Tattoo magazines later this year. I wonder if Mike knows?
 

I’m dusting off my Indian. I need to ride to Camarillo to JIM’s retirement party on Friday and to see the lovely Rebecca, my fifth wife. She’s going in for some surgery on Monday. Then Graeme Lowen is flying in from NZ to pick up his Goldwing on Tuesday and hit the road across the country. Parts are arriving daily.

This is going to be a helluva week.

Ride fast and free,

–Bandit

Please follow and like us:
Pin Share