Research shows overall safety improving in Europe for motorcyclsits

Research by European motorcycle body ACEM reveals that the number of powered two wheeler (PTW) rider fatalities has decreased by 27% in 10 years (2001-2010). ACEM performed an analysis of road safety statistics based on International Road Traffic Accident Data (IRTAD) data for the period 2001-2010. But despite this positive result the percentage of PTW rider fatalities has increased in the overall transport mix, due to a much greater reduction in fatalities amongst other road user groups. The research shows
May 1, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Improving safety has been seen in Europe for motorcyclists, with the improved Spanish barrier regulations being one notable development
Research by European motorcycle body ACEM reveals that the number of powered two wheeler (PTW) rider fatalities has decreased by 27% in 10 years (2001-2010). ACEM performed an analysis of road safety statistics based on International Road Traffic Accident Data (3444 IRTAD) data for the period 2001-2010. But despite this positive result the percentage of PTW rider fatalities has increased in the overall transport mix, due to a much greater reduction in fatalities amongst other road user groups. The research shows that in the 2001-2010 period, the number of PTW riders killed dropped by 27.3%. Specifically, the number of moped riders killed dropped 58.6% while the number of motorcyclists killed dropped 14.4%. This shows that safety for moped riders has been constantly improving but cannot be explained with the 6.5% reduction in the number of mopeds in use across Europe as a whole. In some countries, such as Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Slovenia and Sweden, moped use has been increasing while fatalities have dropped. With regard to motorcycles, there is still a disparity between EU Member States in terms of safety performance. Progress has been marked in some countries but others are improving at a slower rate. In some countries the number of motorcycle riders has increased and the reasons behind these differences are being further investigated. The numbers of motorcycles in use in Europe grew by 45% during 2001-2010, the biggest single growth for any vehicle type in Europe in the period. ACEM uses data from IRTAD because it contains exposure data for motorcycles and mopeds in use in each country.

At present there are some 33 million PTWs in use in Europe. But ACEM says that despite the large numbers of these vehicles in use, PTWs are often forgotten in mainstream EU policies. According to ACEM, this fails to acknowledge the benefits PTWs generate and may prevent their benefits with regard to transport mobility, as well as environmental and safety improvements, from being adequately developed.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Safety rallying call to English councillors after road death rise
    July 9, 2012
    English councils have been urged to protect the public on the roads by “whatever means is appropriate” after the first rise in road deaths in the country for eight years. Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said data obtained by the Foundation under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) showed there had been “no mass switch off” of speed cameras in England despite two years of Government road safety funding cuts. But Glaister fears an ageing national network of existing speed camera
    Read More
  • Europe calls for new road safety target
    September 9, 2015
    The European Parliament has reiterated calls for a pan-European target to cut serious road injuries. In a vote on a review of European transport policy since 2011, MEPs called for, “the swift adoption of a 2020 target of a 40 % reduction in the number of people seriously injured, accompanied by a fully-fledged EU strategy.” Since 2010 the number of people seriously injured on EU roads has been reduced by just 1.6%, compared to an 18% decrease in the number of road deaths. Last year the numbers actually
    Read More
  • Men more likely to pass UK driving test than women, says IAM research
    September 19, 2012
    British men are 6.4% more likely than British women to pass their practical driving test, according to road safety charity the IAM. But while young men are more likely to pass their driving test, they are also three times more likely to be killed or seriously injured (KSI) behind the wheel. The IAM findings are a result of analysing pass rates statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) published in August 2012 for the financial year 2011-2012.
    Read More
  • Brunei sees increased road deaths
    January 4, 2016
    Road crashes in Brunei caused more deaths in 2015 compared with 2014. The data from Brunei's Fire and Rescue Department shows that from January to November 2015, there were 15 road deaths compared with 10 fatalities from road crashes in 2014. In the period under review, the department obtained 76 calls to assist in lifting drivers and passengers trapped in ruined vehicles as opposed to 92 calls obtained in the preceding year. Serious injuries, however, dropped year-on-year from 92 to 65 in the 11 reporting
    Read More

Highlighted Content