In mid-June 2013, Siim Kallas the Vice-President of the European Commission, attended a road safety conference in Brussels organised by ETSC (European Transport Safety Council).
ETSC is a Brussels-based independent non-profit making organisation which is dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries in transport in Europe.
At the conference Mr Kallas gave a speech on making Europe’s roads safer and the way ahead.
In the speech he highlighted his opinion that, “The main problem is that there are simply too many vehicles with technical defects on the road.” and that, “we (European Commission) have tried to do something.
This was in reference to the European Commission’s proposal for the introduction of a regulation on Road Worthiness Testing across EU.
With regards to motorcycling Mr Kallas did not seem to be happy about the position adopted by the European Council (representatives of democratically elected governments) the TRAN (Transport and Tourism) committee in charge of the Road Worthiness Proposal, IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) committee, both committees of MEPs, democratically elected by European Citizens, that is, you and me!
The position adopted by both council and the parliamentary committees, is the deletion of the requirements to introduce mandatory road worthiness testing for motorcycles, which would thus leave this decision up to member states to either introduce or keep their testing procedures for motorcycles.
Mr Kallas stated, “So the Commission proposed toughening vehicle testing regimes and widening their scope to include motorbikes and scooters. Today’s rules date from 1977 and do not cover two- and three-wheeled vehicles.
What happened? This proposal has now been rejected twice, by EU ministers and the European Parliament’s transport committee. This is more than unfortunate – and it is yet another unnecessary political compromise.
Of course, technical failure is not the only cause of accidents. It could be a moment’s distraction of a driver or a pedestrian, a damaged section of road. Or simply because one road user chooses to ignore a traffic rule.”
Whilst the European Commission keeps quoting figures for motorcyclists collisions and injuries caused by mechanical defects, on the other hand an initial appraisal prepared by the Impact Assessment Unit for the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) says, “Whereas the larger part of the data used by the Commission seem to be sufficiently robust, the basic assumption that better and more frequent technical inspections would lead to fewer defects in vehicles seems not to be supported by evidence at all.
Moreover, the further link between fewer defects in vehicles and the avoidance of accidents also seems less firmly established.
With regard to motorcycles, the Commission’s assumption that 8% of accidents involving motorcycles are caused by technical defects is based on a single DEKRA Motorcycle Road Safety Report (2010).
This seems to be contradicted by other OECD and European Commission statistics, indicating that such a clear relationship between motorcycle fatalities and technical testing of motorcycles might not exist.”
Adopted Position
The adopted position by the TRAN committee for the European parliament which is made up of MEPs from all parties and political groupings in the European parliament was amended, debated and democratically voted on by this committee on 30th May 2013.
Included in the parliamentary position adopted by TRAN and IMCO included the following:
“No later than [three years from the date of publication of this Regulation], the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the inclusion of two- or three-wheel vehicles into the scope of this Regulation. The report shall assess the road safety situation for that category of vehicles in the European Union. In particular, the Commission shall compare road safety results for that category of vehicles in Member States carrying out roadworthiness testing of that category of vehicles with those in Member States which do not test that category of vehicles in order to assess whether roadworthiness testing of the two- or three-wheel vehicles is proportionate to the set road safety objectives. The report shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals”.
So this takes into the contradiction of the Commissions reliance on the DEKRA report and to look at the evidence before introducing any legislative proposals.
The vote on the three legislative reports that were adopted in TRAN Committee on 30 May, is due to take place on Tuesday of next week (2nd July) with a debate on the proposals scheduled for the previous day Monday 1st July).
Eleventh Hour
In the meantime at the eleventh hour ALDE rapporteur and Lib Dem MEP Phil Bennion broke ranks and added amendments to re-introduce the inclusion of 2 and 3 three wheeled vehicles. The Green party representatives have included further amendments of a similar nature.
We can only speculate why at this point in time these MEPs have evidently thrown a spanner in the works and whilst using the procedures that are allowed in the European Parliament because they did not get their way in the democratic procedure, debate and voting, have now made all the efforts of the TRAN and IMCO Committee and the European Council appear to be futile.
This is effectively sticking two fingers up at the democratic process, to fellow MEPs to governments and to the citizen and riders organisations who have lobbied fair and square, a process in which Mr Bennion took an active part.
As the latest European Parliament Newsletter regarding the plenary session in Strasbourg says, “It might approve mandatory inspections of motorbikes across the EU, after this was narrowly rejected by the transport committee in May.”
We would ask our UK MEPs not to support any amendments which would reintroduce mandatory road worthiness for motorcycles across Europe and to support the previous position of the Council – TRAN and IMCO Committees in this matter and to encourage their colleagues to do likewise.
Our Letter to Phil Bennion
Dear Mr Bennion
Reference your pervious communication with my colleague at Right To Ride regarding the Road Worthiness Testing proposal, I have just become aware that you have submitted amendments on behalf of the ALDE group.
These amendments, I have been informed, would reintroduce the requirements for motorcycles to be included in mandatory road worthiness testing.
As this, is importantly against the whole position of the motorcycling community across Europe and against the deletion recommended in the positions of the Council and Tran and IMCO committees, I fail to see your/ALDIs reasons and for example the S&D Group for these and similar amendments.
I am preparing an article for our website to be published prior to the debate and vote in the Plenary session of the parliament on Monday and Tuesday and would appreciate any comments you would have concerning this matter.
An example of the text I am preparing includes:
“In the meantime at the eleventh hour ALDE rapporteur and Lib Dem MEP Phil Bennion broke ranks and added amendments to re-introduce the inclusion of 2 and 3 three wheeled vehicles. The Green party representatives have included further amendments of a similar.
We can only speculate why at this point in time these MEPs have evidently thrown a spanner in the works and whilst using the procedures that are allowed in the European Parliament because they did not get their way in the democratic procedure, debate and voting, have now made all the efforts of the TRAN and IMCO Committee and the European Council appear to be futile.
This is effectively sticking two fingers up at the democratic process, to fellow MEPs to governments and to the citizen and riders organisations who have lobbied fair and square, a process in which Mr Bennion took an active part.
We would ask our UK MEPs not to support any amendments which would reintroduce mandatory road worthiness for motorcycles across Europe and to support the position of the Council – TRAN and IMCO Committees.”
Whilst the European Commission keeps quoting figures for motorcyclists collisions and injuries caused by mechanical defects, on the other hand an initial appraisal prepared by the Impact Assessment Unit for the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) says, “Whereas the larger part of the data used by the Commission seem to be sufficiently robust, the basic assumption that better and more frequent technical inspections would lead to fewer defects in vehicles seems not to be supported by evidence at all.
Moreover, the further link between fewer defects in vehicles and the avoidance of accidents also seems less firmly established.
With regard to motorcycles, the Commission’s assumption that 8% of accidents involving motorcycles are caused by technical defects is based on a single DEKRA Motorcycle Road Safety Report (2010).
This seems to be contradicted by other OECD and European Commission statistics, indicating that such a clear relationship between motorcycle fatalities and technical testing of motorcycles might not exist.”
The adopted position by the TRAN committee for the European parliament which is made up of MEPs from all parties and political groupings in the European parliament was amended, debated and democratically voted on by this committee on 30th May 2013.
Included in the parliamentary position adopted by TRAN and IMCO included the following:
“No later than [three years from the date of publication of this Regulation], the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the inclusion of two- or three-wheel vehicles into the scope of this Regulation. The report shall assess the road safety situation for that category of vehicles in the European Union. In particular, the Commission shall compare road safety results for that category of vehicles in Member States carrying out roadworthiness testing of that category of vehicles with those in Member States which do not test that category of vehicles in order to assess whether roadworthiness testing of the two- or three-wheel vehicles is proportionate to the set road safety objectives. The report shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals”.
So this takes into the contradiction of the Commissions reliance on the DEKRA report and to look at the evidence before introducing any legislative proposals.
Regards
Trevor Baird
www.righttoride.co.uk
www.righttoride.eu
trevor.baird@righttoride.co.uk
You can find Phil Bennion at www.philbennion.org and on Facebook
The Vote – On RWT
The proposals on RWT (MoT) were voted by the EU parliament to postpone the vote – and refer the proposal back to the TRAN (Transport and Tourism) committee.
This is so that an agreement that can be reached between Parliament – Council – Commission for a first reading in the parliament. That is try to agree on the final legislation before a final vote in Parliament.
There was just too much difference of opinion between these bodies regarding their positions, including motorcycles.
For motorcycling that is exactly were we want and need to be to continue lobbying on the deletion of motorcycles.
Mr Bennion’s amendments (no.113 and no.114) have been rejected as well as another amendment that stated:
Motorcycle riders are the group of road users with the highest safety risk, with rising trend in the number of fatalities. Moped drivers are overrepresented in the number of fatalities, with more than 1,400 drivers killed on the roads in 2008. The scope of vehicles to be tested shall therefore be extended to the highest risk group of road users, the powered two- or three-wheel vehicles. (This was rejected).
An amendment (no.117) was accepted which includes: – This Regulation shall apply to vehicles …………..from 1 January 2016 two – or three-wheel vehicles – vehicle categories L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e,
1a. This Regulation shall apply as from 1 January 2018 to the following vehicle categories unless the Commission demonstrates in its report under Article 18a that such a measure would be ineffective: – two- or three-wheel vehicles – vehicle categories L1e, L2e and L6e.
Article 18a as regards motorcycles: “the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation and effects of this Regulation, in particular as regards the inclusion of vehicles of categories L1e, L2e and L6e within its scope”
Category L3e vehicle (two-wheel motorcycle), are sub-categorised by:
(i) motorcycle performance, further sub-categorised into:
– A1 vehicle (low-performance motorcycle);
– A2 vehicle (medium-performance motorcycle);
– A3 vehicle (high-performance motorcycle).
Category L4e vehicle (two-wheel motorcycle with side-car).
At 2.30pm UK time there will be a briefing from the TRAN Committee rapporteurs Werner Kuhn – Olga Sehnalova and Vilja Savissaar-Toomast which should contain reports/comments to the vote on Road Worthiness Testing.
Click Here
Motorcycle MOT test: a turnaround?
The vast majority of French MPs are already positioned against the technical control.
The FFMC and other members of FEMA (BMF, NMCU, MAG NL) associations will be present to the European Parliament Tuesday, July 2, the day of the vote.
Via Google Translate – Click Here
MAG Netherlands
From Google translate :- Today, Tuesday, July 2nd, is the make or break for the European plans for a compulsory motor MOT. The entire European Parliament will vote today on these plans. And although the committees of transport and internal market and consumer protection against the APK duty have voted, it can still go wrong …
In recent days, the MAG continuously worked to convince the nonsense of a motor MOT and our foreign sister organizations have been plenty of rope. As many members of the European Parliament
MAG’s own Dolf Willigers present in Strasbourg, and maintaining the latest talks today with a delegation of European riders will be present during the vote that will determine whether we motorcyclists bear the brunt of an APK proposal from the sleeve engine manufacturers and the (commercial) inspection bodies come.
According to the MAG APK for engines is not a matter that needs to be regulated at European level (a view that is shared by our government and by both the First and Second Chamber). The MAG wish the European Parliament the wisdom not to opt for the interests of the industry, but to defend the interests of citizens (read: voters).
Click Here
Right To Ride Elaine Hardy’s conversation with MEP Phil Bennion on his Facebook page.
Mr Bennion, I do not agree with offensive comments, simply because they are unhelpful and just plain rude.
However what I don’t understand is why you have tabled these amendments (regarding 2 and 3 wheeled vehicle – specifically, those which are type approved after 2016) at this late stage, considering that the vote on the whole Road Worthiness testing (RWT) proposal will take place this week.
I suppose a simple question is why at this point in time?
After all, the Council, IMCO Committee and even your own TRAN Committee agreed to leave 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles out of the proposal until such time as research to qualify the inclusion of these vehicles into RWT is carried out – i.e. in three years time. I suppose the other question is – did you take any advice from the motorcycle industry or elsewhere?
Also, the other amendment that you have included i.e. to extend RWT to every 2 years (after four years) is opposed to the DfT’s response and wishes and considering that your party is part of the government’s coalition, isn’t this in complete opposition to your own party’s views?
Read more – Click Here
Those Goddamm Amendments
Who asked these MEPs and political groups to submit these amendments on behalf of the motorcycle community?
None of these amendments are any position of the motorcycle community across Europe!
Here are the amendments as we understand them.
For whatever reason these have been submitted there does not appear to have been any consultation with the motorcycling community by elected MEPs – Unless you know different!!!
Amendment 113 – Phil Bennion on behalf of the ALDE Group
Text proposed by the Commission – two- or three-wheel vehicles – vehicle categories L1e, L2e, L3e, L4e, L5e, L6e and L7e, – from 1 January 2016, newly type-approved two- or three-wheel vehicles – vehicle categories L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e,
Amendment – from 1 January 2016, newly type-approved two- or three-wheel vehicles – vehicle categories L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e,
NOTE: That this ammendment appears to leave out Category L1e vehicle (light two-wheel powered vehicle), sub-categorised into:
(i) L1Ae vehicle (powered cycle);
(ii) L1Be vehicle (two-wheel moped).
(b) Category L2e vehicle (three-wheel moped).
from requirements for testing.
Amendment 114 – Phil Bennion on behalf of the ALDE Group
Text proposed by the Commission – Vehicles of categories L1e, L2e, L3e, L4e, L5e, L6e and L7e: four years after the date on which the vehicle was first registered, then two years and thereafter annually;
Amendment – Vehicles of categories L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e: four years after the date on which the vehicle was first registered, and thereafter every two years.
Good for riders but not so good for dealers and MoT testing stations.
Amendment 115 Saïd El Khadraoui, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău on behalf of the S&D Group
Introduces this text – Any retrofitted equipment affecting the safety and environmental characteristics of the vehicle should not adversely affect those characteristics as they were at the time of approval, first registration or entry into force.
Is this testing parts that are already type approved?
Amendment 116 – Saïd El Khadraoui, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău on behalf of the S&D Group Isabelle Durant on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group.
Removes this text – Solid investigation results show that 8% of the accidents involving motorcycles are caused or linked to technical defects.
Which has been proven to be not correct.
But keeps this
Motorcycle riders are the group of road users with the highest safety risk, with rising trend in the number of fatalities. Moped drivers are overrepresented in the number of fatalities, with more than 1,400 drivers killed on the roads in 2008. The scope of vehicles to be tested shall therefore be extended to the highest risk group of road users, the powered two- or three-wheel vehicles.
Motorcycles back in as the position of the TRAN Committee and if voted on positivly the position of the European Parliament
MAG Belgium
From MAG Belgium – We, European Motorcyclists, believe that the compromise found and adopted by TRAN members is the best outcome for all parties and addresses all concerns by calling the Commission to properly study and compare road safety results between countries with and without PTI before assessing within 3 years the need to include L-category vehicles in the scope of the EU PTI regulation.
Click Here
Commission wants mandatory technical inspections for all motorcycles in Europe, Council, IMCO, TRAN and citizens don’t!
We are therefore calling MEPs to support the TRAN, IMCO and Council decision and reject amendments 113, 114 Phil Bennion (ALDE), 115/116/117/118/119 Saïd El Khadraoui, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău (S&D), Isabelle Durant (Greens).
Click Here
On Tuesday determined inspection issue
28th June 2013
From the Swedish riders organisation – SMC
Although the Committee on Transport and tourism dropped demands for compulsory technical inspection of motorbikes and mopeds popped up seven new proposals at the last moment.
There are three poltical groups in the European Parliament that would introduce mandatory inspection: Liberal (Liberal Party and the Centre Party of Sweden), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (Social Democrats) and the Greens / European Free Alliance (Pirate Party and the Green Party of Sweden) .
Groups are not United on the issue across national borders. SMC’s contacts with some parties have so far been positive. However, the end of the matter is uncertain! Around Europe courted because EU politicians of motorcyclists who are members of FEMA.
Want to contact your MEP?
Have you voted for any of these parties to the European Parliament? Then you can contact your MEP and ask them to vote against these additional suggestions. You can use your own words or steal content from SMC’s letter below.
SMC wrote: “The European Commission has as you know, has proposed that all types of two-and three-wheelers to undergo inspection, ie, motorcycles and mopeds. Interval proposed was 4 +2 and every year thereafter. Proposal was based on a study conducted by the German inspection agency DEKRA . study showed figures that are not presented in any study of motorcycle accidents caused by technical errors. material has been questioned by all parties.
The proposal was not well received by either party. European Motorcyclists are satisfied that the proposal will cost hundreds of millions of Euros extra per year without any real benefits for either party, in addition to inspection bodies. Ministers said no to the proposal as well as members of IMCO and TRAN. All parties in the Swedish parliament solid proposal and sent a written opinion to the EU institutions.
Despite these decisions to all L vehicles must be removed from the Inspection Package with a request that the accident statistics should be collected and compared from countries with and without inspection for motorcycles and scooters, has seven additional proposals submitted before the plenary vote on Jul. 2, 2013 (draft 113 , 114, 115, 116, 117, 118 and 119).
Sweden and Europe motorcyclists think that the compromise which was adopted by the members of the TRAN is the best solution for all parties. The Commission must study and compare accident statistics between countries with and without inspection within three years, before making any decisions about including motorcycles and mopeds in the proposal.
Motorcycle accidents mainly due förarfel, not technical failure. Motorcycle accidents are also deficiencies in the road environment and to other road users who do not pay attention to motorcycles and mopeds in traffic. The security among European motorcycle and moped owners will not increase by forcing 40 million vehicle owners to regular monitoring inspections. Our neighboring countries Norway, Finland and Denmark have actually have lower accident rates among motorcycle drivers than Sweden, even though they do not have vehicle inspection! Swedish survey statistics is also proof that motorcycle owners are the best of all vehicle owners to care for their vehicles, even though the inspection interval sparse founded in 2004.
As a voter, I ask you, therefore, to support the decisions of the TRAN, IMCO and the Council of Ministers and to vote against the amended proposals 113, 114 Phil Bennion (ALDE) samt115/116/117/118/119 Saïd El Khadraoui, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău (S & D), Isabelle Durant (Greens). ”
Original source SMC – Click Here
Roadworthiness Testing – it’s back and it’s bad news
28th June 2013
Previously, the European Council and the IMCO committee had excluded motorcycles, and the TRAN vote was one more battle won.
We said at the time that the defeat of the proposal would not be taken lightly, and how right that proved to be.
Despite the Council, IMCO and TRAN votes excluding motorcycles from the scope, further amendments have been tabled for the plenary vote on Tuesday 5th July which aim to scupper the democratic process.
These amendments we pushed through at the eleventh hour by MEP’s Phil Bennion (ALDE), Saïd El Khadraoui & Silvia-Adriana Ţicău (S&D), and Isabelle Durant (Greens).
MAG Ireland has notified the Irish MEP’s of this last minute changes, and requested their support to overturn them ahead of the final Plenary vote next Tuesday.
We continue to lobby for the exclusion of motorcycles from testing on the basis that the evidence for their inclusion was supplied by a testing company who stand to make millions from extended roadworthiness testing. We’ll be reporting the outcome early next week.
Elsewhere, Northern Ireland’s Right to Ride have a very detailed post on this issue in which they take an in depth look at the whole process.
Right to Ride describes the intervention by these MEP’s as follows:
This is effectively sticking two fingers up at the democratic process, to fellow MEPs to governments and to the citizen and riders organisations who have lobbied fair and square, a process in which Mr Bennion took an active part.
That rather neatly sums up the feeling among riders representative organisations across Europe right now.
See “Down to the Wire” on the Right to Ride web site at:http://www.righttoride.eu/?p=11424
We in MAG Ireland will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds. We continue to work with and through FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations on this and other key issues.
If you found this post useful, and you are not a MAG member, please show your support by joining MAG Ireland or making a donation
Original Source MAG Ireland – Click Here