Category: Organisations

1. BMF Calls For Justice

   Posted on 12:01am Tuesday 15th May 2012

   The BMF have written to Justice Minister Kenneth Clarke MP, QC, after the Court of Appeal last Friday overturned a judgement that had been made in favour of a motorcyclist seriously injured in a collision with a lorry.

   At a hearing at Cambridge County Court last year, motorcyclist Robert Whiteford of Soham, Cambridgeshire, who lost his right leg in the collision in April 2009, had won his case against a Lithuanian transport company, Kubas UAB, but now, despite what the BMF say is accepted as undisputed evidence that the lorry was over the central white line, the motorcyclist, while still on his side of the road, has been held to be riding ‘too close to the centre of the road’ and was therefore the one at fault.

   It has also been accepted by all parties that the lorry was too wide for its side of the road and when cornering at the time of the collision was over the white centre line, but simply because motorcyclist Robert Whiteford had agreed with the defence that he should have been riding nearer the centre of his own lane (something experienced motorcyclists know is not necessarily the case), he was held to blame.

   Jonathan Watt-Pringle, QC for the lorry firm, therefore argued that the judge ‘was wrong to impose so high a standard of driving on the lorry driver’ adding that: “The collision occurred for one reason and one reason only, and that is because the claimant was driving right close to the centre when he accepted that the course should have been a very different one.”

   Allowing the appeal, Lord Justice Richards said of the lorry driver: “A finding of negligence in this case would, to my mind, be to impose an unacceptably high standard on the driver.”

   In the letter to Mr Clarke, the BMF complains that the appeal judges in the case had decided bizarrely that the lower court was in error because it was “an unacceptably high standard” for the driver to stay on his own side of the road!

   In the light of the judgement, the BMF have asked Mr Clark 'how it can possibly be right that a driver licensed to drive the largest and most dangerous vehicles on the road is not expected to stay on his own side of the road?' 

   BMF spokesman Jeff Stone said: “There are far too many of these instances where justice for the motorcyclist is hard to come by. It’s a sort of bikeism where it seems merely riding a motorcycle is taken as a contributory factor! This case especially really does beggar belief.”

   The report of the appeal case can be read on the Cambridge-News website:

2. ABS In Report ‘Flawed’ FIA

   Posted on 12:01am Saturday 31st Mar 2012

   The March edition of InMotion, the International magazine of the FIA – Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile – carries an article in which one of their Regions (1) is disappointed and brands as “Flawed” a report on the cost-benefit analysis of Anti-Lock Braking Systems for motorcycles.
    
   We assume that the article refers to the Impact Assessment conducted for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committee. This Impact Assessment looked at three measures contained in the European Commission’s proposal for a “Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheeled vehicles and quadricycles”.
    
   This was relevant to three compromise amendments to these measures which were submitted by MEPs to the IMCO Rapporteur, Mr van de Camp’s report in February 2012.
    
   The FIA article appears to focus on the amendment concerning the mandatory fitting of Advanced Brake Systems (Combined Brake System (CBS) and/or Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS)), moving the ABS introduction date forward by a year and extending Advanced Brake Systems cover to Powered Two Wheelers of more than 50cc.
    
   At Right To Ride, we agree with the FIA comment that, “the report is disappointing as the evidence of all key stakeholders, in particular users and suppliers, has not been included.”
    
   As previously reported, ETRA the European Twowheel Retailers’ Association also commented on the shortcomings of the Impact Assessment, stating “the Committee rejected the conclusions of the impact assessment study. (…)  due to the limited amount of time to draft it and to the unclear mandate given to London Economics.”
    
   ETRA’s press release continued with the comment, “The Conference of Presidents that followed the discussions, decided to give more time to London Economics to come up with a final and more thorough version of the study that, for instance, would take into consideration also the point of view of the parts suppliers as regards the cost of ABS.”
    
   However, the tag line on the picture accompanying the FIA article is as follows:
    
   “The FIA says that the EU failed to listen to suppliers such as Bosch, whose ABS 9 system is shown here.”
    
   At Right To Ride, we wonder if this is a “veiled” promotion of one ABS manufacturer over others?  The reason we wonder, is because there appears to be a comprehensive and systematic lobby by one ABS manufacturer.
    
   Our opinion at Right To Ride is that mandatory ABS will not be the panacea that will “save” the proportion of riders lives in collisions that is being reported by various sources, because there are just too many variables when considering the cause of motorcycle collisions.
    
   It would appear that FIA have tempered their views and recognised that ABS on its own will not automatically enhance road safety.
    
   Read the article at Right To Ride EU

3. BMF Warns of Cinderella Roads

   Posted on 12:01am Monday 26th Mar 2012

   News that the Government is considering plans to privatise sections of the UK’s road network poses a real threat to the rural road network warns the 80,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation.
    
   Commenting on the plans, the BMF say that motorcyclists are far more aware of poorly maintained road surfaces than most car drivers and because private investors will only be interested in high returns from major trunk roads and motorways, the lesser used rural roads favoured by motorcyclists will suffer.

   Privatisation will result in a two-tier roads system say the BMF with the most lucrative roads creamed off and the others becoming ‘Cinderella roads’ deprived of investment and left to deteriorate.

   While many local authorities already contract out their roads maintenance, their maintenance programme is still under council control. Taking financial control away from them will mean that private profits will take precedence over service say the BMF.
    
   Tolling will also be an issue for motorcyclists. The BMF have always maintained that motorcycles make little demands on road construction and inflict negligible damage on road surfaces. In fact say the BMF, motorcycles already incur a disproportionate amount of road tax for their size (£74 pa for a 600cc machine as against £95 for a five seater 1600cc car) and motorcyclists see any additional charges as being grossly unfair.

   The UK needs a sound roads infrastructure but the road network is far too important to be privatised say the BMF.

   www.bmf.co.uk

4. Swedish Medical Cards

   Posted on 12:01am Saturday 17th Mar 2012

   According to the Swedish Riders Organisation (SMC) information in motorcycle helmets can save four lives per year!
    
   This week, 65 000 members of the Swedish Motorcyclist Association, SMC, get a Medical Card kit. The Swedish medical card follows the UKs Ambulance Motorcycle Club Crash Card, the Rider Alert scheme in the US with a CRASH card scheme to be launched in Northern Ireland.
    
   The Swedish Medical Card kit includes four stickers to add on the helmet/s and a card for medical information to put between the shell and padding of the helmet. With this effort, SMC hope to save a few lives per year through fast and adequate rescue in case of an accident.
    
   Motorcyclists are killed and injured in accidents on Swedish Roads every year. The Swedish riders are getting older. Many persons have some kind of allergy or chronic disease. It doesn’t matter if you are going on a ride on your own or with a group – you can’t rely on anyone else to describe your personal medical status. It is much safer if you fill it out on a Medical Card and put it in your helmet.
    
   It is well established that the victim’s chances of survival are greatest if they receive care within a short period of time after a severe injury. Since Sweden is a big country where huge areas is sparsely populated there isn’t always an ambulance in the neighbourhood.
    
   If you suffer from a disease like for example diabetes, there can be a solution to the crash and the rescue team will know what kind of emergency care the victim needs.
    
   According to the Swedish Transport Administration four lives can be saved with fast and adequate rescue. This is the reason for SMC to send out stickers and Medical Cards to 65, 000 members.
    
   The Medical Card Sticker is added on the bottom on the back of the helmet and indicates that the rider has a Medical Card in the helmet, between the shell and padding, with medical information.
    
   Every helmet owner adds information on the medical card. On one side the owner writes: medical history, medical treatment and allergies. On the other side the owner will write name, personal ID number and ICEnumber. All information is translated to English.
    
   ”It’s a simple but genius idea that started among ambulance drivers in England. It’s now spreading all over the world”, says Jesper Chrisensen, general secretary of SMC. Both motorcycle riders and ambulance staff in other countries have already testified that the Medical Cards saved lives. If we can save the life of only one rider, SMC has succeeded with this initiative”, continues Christensen.
    
   The initiative from SMC was on Swedish National TV: 
    
   Ambulance Motorcycle Club Crash Cards 
    
   Crash Cards For Northern Ireland

5. Compulsory Basic Training

   Posted on 12:01am Thursday 23rd Feb 2012

   The nidirect Government Services website has published a reminder and information:  As of yesterday, 21st February 2012, “all learner moped and motorcycle riders must complete Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) before they can ride unaccompanied on public roads.”
    
   CBT was introduced last year on 21st February 2011 and riders with a motorcycle provisional licence entitlement were allowed a year to take a motorcycle practical test without having to take CBT.
    
   As this deadline has now passed, you will have to take CBT before you can do your practical test, which consists of two parts, a manoeuvres test which will last approximately 30 minute, (at present this is only available from certain test centres) and an on-road motorcycle riding test which lasts about 40 minutes.
    
   There are five elements in the syllabus that covers CBT training. Elements A to D are not time bound – the duration will depend on your ability. However, element E will be a minimum of four hours. The overall length of the course will vary depending on your ability, knowledge, understanding and skills.
    
   The nidirect Government Services website comments, “Biking can be a great experience but ridden inappropriately, a motorcycle becomes a lethal weapon. CBT will improve learners’ riding skills because they will receive training in a safe environment before being allowed to ride on public roads.”
    
   Adding that, “Drivers should look out for motorcyclists -  Half of all motorcyclist casualties are caused by other drivers. Motorists should give extra consideration to motorcyclists and look out for bikes:
    •when overtaking
   •at junctions
   •when turning right
   •when emerging onto main roads
    
   Only registered Approved Motorcycle Instructors (AMI) will be allowed to conduct these training courses. It is intended that this new training scheme will improve safety for all road users.”
    
   Module 1
    
   Element A Introduction – theoretical training
   Element B Practical training (touch, balance etc)
    
   Module 2
    
   Element C Practical riding skills
   Element D Pre road-ride briefing
    
   Module 3
    
   Element E Practical on-road riding (compulsory 4 hours duration)
    
   More Changes
    
   If you are not already aware, in January 2013, the motorcycle test and licence categories will change through the implementation of the EU Third Licence Directive.
    
   Yesterday (21st February) Right To Ride along with other stakeholders attended the second meeting to discuss this implementation.
    
   To read this article and for further information and links on CBT in Northern Ireland go to Right To Ride