A national approach to motorcycle safety

Eric ThiollierFFMC General Delegate

(France)

Introduction

• What is the French ‘Angry Motorcyclists’ Federation ?

• What are the expectations of the users ?

• The situation of the French PTW debate

What is the FFMC?The national Federation of road riding PTW users, that includes :• 80 local branches throughout France

• Assurance Mutuelle des Motards, an insurance company with 200 000 users (1983)

• Moto Magazine, the leading consumers’ interest oriented motorcycle magazine with 130 000 buyers monthly (1983)

• Association pour la Formation Des Motards, a network of 35 quality driving schools and advanced training for already experienced drivers (1985)

• FFMC Loisirs, to teach teenagers the basics of riding techniques and attitudes (1985)

• A number of commissions and working groups dealing withseveral aspects of MCs (theft, legislation, road safety, etc…).

• An expanding young riders road awareness program which got an official agreement from the Ministry of Education.

Users expectations

• That the government grasps a better understanding of the growth and diversity of PTW users

• Fewer pointless legislations based on prejudice

• But legislations that takes PTW specificities into account

• Better training (DLD Directive, training curriculum)

• Forgiving road infrastructures

• Incentives to wear appropriate clothing

Understanding PTW Users• +60% PTW in 15 years in France

• Average annual mileage unknown but growing

• Market is 34% < 125 cm², 29% = 125 cm², 37% > 125 cm²

• Average age is 38 years old, 25% female in 2009

• Commuting use for 50% of users

• Vulnerable users (inexperience, lack of protection)

• « Road Safety conscious » users (94% consideraccident prevention as important or very important

• Understanding PTW accidents is a key issue

Fewer pointless legislation

• Front number plate ?

• 100 hp limitation: the French cultural exception ?

• Ban of open face helmets ?

• Ban of filtering through trafficjams ?

• MC tuning can send you to jail(car tuning will only get you a fine)

• Useless RWT for 50 cm²

Bike-relevant improvement (lets dream !)

• Filtering : a opportunity to be pragmatic !

• Better and more PTW parking space

• Bikes in bus lanes : let’s experience !

• Incentives for greener PTWs

• Communication that would not « point fingers »

Better training

• Training must teach risk situations

• Road safety education to start as early as possible

• Road safety training as a continuous process

• Sharing the road, PTW awareness for car drivers

Forgiving road infrastructure

• Need to harmonize standards (roadside furniture)

• Guardrails (the « safety » barrier ?)

• Non slippery road surface

• Appropriate speed bumps

Incentives to protection

• Information & Communication campaigns

• Incentives from insurance companies

• Appropriate standards

• There is room for fiscal incentives

The reality behind the talks

• One year of discussions and MC legislation is once again introduced without previous consultation of users (RWT)

• A general feeling of being side-tracked

BUT

• Improvements in the general RS communication about PTW accidents

• Possible improvements of the driving license scheme through introduction of 3rd EU DLD

• Better understanding of MC issues seems to emerge, but facts deny intentions

Conclusion

What PTW users expect might differ

with experts conclusions

< “From a security point of view, this is the ideal motobike… especially if it’s electric.”

Thank you for your attention !

For more information www.ffmc.fr