Europe – ACEM, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers who represent manufacturers of mopeds, motorcycles, three-wheelers and quadricycles (L-category vehicles) in Europe have released two interesting press releases. In both of these press releases ACEM have communicated with regards to connected vehicle technology - Connected Motorcycle Consortium (CMC) – from the 2017 CMC Conference in Munich, Germany and they also look at future policy for Europe’s automotive sector including the motorcycle industry – contained in the GEAR 2030 report. What Is The … [Read more...]
Diesel Spills Do Kill!
Sweden – SMC the Swedish Motorcyclists Association (Sveriges MotorCykliste) has reported on the issue of diesel spills from vehicles on Swedish roads where they ordered a test were friction on gravel and diesel was measured with alarming test results. Saying what motorcyclists, road engineers and authorities have known for decades, SMC has gone through the issue as it affects Swedish motorcyclists though which could be the issue anywhere in the world. SMC – Diesel And Oil Spills Every year a number of motorcycle and moped accidents happen due to diesel spillage … [Read more...]
Effects ABS Motorcycle Crashes
Effects of Advanced (Anti-lock) Braking Systems (ABS) On Motorcycle Crashes - A Survey of 61 motorcyclists who crashed between 2010 and 2015 An online survey was carried out in 2016 focussing on motorcyclists who had crashed while riding a motorcycle fitted with Advanced (anti-lock) Braking Systems (ABS). The survey was a pilot study to identify specific issues relating to crashes involving motorcycles fitted with ABS. The objective of the survey was to find out from riders, their experiences which will be used to provide information to improve training and the … [Read more...]
The Stupid Factor
We Are Human - Over the last ten years I have been involved in road safety research. In the last 5 years I have had the fortune of working with professional road collision investigators who kindly gave me access to their case files of road traffic fatalities in Northern Ireland. Overall, I studied around 150 fatalities, broken down into three groups: Motorcyclists, Pedestrians and Vehicle Occupants (the latter referring mainly to car drivers and passengers). What interested me was the way that in each case it was not a specific issue that caused the death of the "victim" … [Read more...]
Crashing with ABS – Survey Time!
European/Global - ABS - Anti Lock Brakes – Advanced Braking Systems, whatever you wish to label them, are certainly marked out in the realms of ongoing motorcycling technical innovations as something that improves rider safety. Any challenges about the ability of ABS not to stop in corners, on loose road surfaces while keeping the rider upright, has faded away as practical and “paper” research debunks any dissent, putting forward evidence that ABS saves riders lives. As ABS moves technically forward, linked to more advanced electronics and other handling systems, some … [Read more...]
Leg Protectors: The Evil Genie Has Returned!
In their 1991 article entitled “International Protection Racket” the American Motorcyclists Association (AMA) posed the question, “Who will design your next motorcycle?” The AMA claimed to have uncovered a bizarre international scheme designed to force sweeping changes in motorcycle design, that would be mandated not through legislation by elected representatives but through litigation by self-styled “experts” in motorcycle safety and they were not far wrong. The AMA said they were tipped off by their connections with the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and in 1991 … [Read more...]
Motorcycle safety and accidents in Europe
Europe - The Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) - made up of rider organisations who represent their members in countries from across Europe report that, "Motorcycle safety and accidents vary between individual countries." FEMA has come to this conclusion in a summary report - "Motorcycle Safety and Accidents in Europe - pdf 569kb" which analyses surveys conducted between 2011 and 2014 of around 25,000 motorcyclists (m/f) about motorcycle safety and accidents. The surveys were conducted through Riderscan - European scanning tour for motorcycle … [Read more...]
