PRESS RELEASE
from the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations
2nd April 2007
Daytime Running
Lights:
The two faces of the European Commission
The European
Commission (EC) eventually managed to obtain a moratorium on DRL to be voted
at the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle (WP29). Unfortunately, the
position and interests defended by EC representatives at the UNECE radically
defer from what was initially announced to FEMA. The need to establish a
dialogue and to adopt a more cautious approach, as officially stated by the DG
TREN Road Safety Unit is once more being questioned.
Following the EC’s consultation on Daytime Running Lights (DRL) closed on
November 17th and FEMA interventions at the FIA seminar on DRL,
motorcyclists’ concerns regarding the EC’s intention to introduce compulsory
DRL for all vehicles throughout Europe seemed to have eventually found echo at
the EC when the Head of the European Commission’s Road Safety Unit, Dr Stefan
Tostmann (DG TREN), announced at a meeting with FEMA representatives on 6th
March that the Commission would call for a 6 month moratorium in the United
Nations vehicle regulations harmonizing process.
A halt in the legislative process seemed necessary for several reasons. On the
one hand, it would have left enough time for the Industry (ACEM) to present
its first results on the motorbikes visibility study (1) and the possible
lighting options to solve the problem. On the other hand, it would have been
possible to better understand the criticisms expressed during the consultation
in 2006 - mainly by vulnerable road users - and to address their worries.
Furthermore, Dr. Totsmann stated that the Commission would note introduce a
measure that would benefit one category of road user to the disadvantage of
any other group.
However, it seems that Commission (DG ENTR) representatives at UNECE did
not view the moratorium in the same light. Last week, at the Working Party on
Lightning and Light-signalling (GRE - a subgroup of WP29), Commission
representative Wolfgang Schneider proved to be strongly in favour of mandatory
Daytime Running Lights provisions. During an explosive discussion between GRE
chairman -very pro-DRL- and FEMA Secretary General, Aline Delhaye, Mr.
Schneider stepped in to support the chairman’s views, underlying that possible
side-effects on motorcyclists were unavoidable. In other words, both
representatives seemed to find normal that the positive impact of DRL on car
drivers’ safety could mean more risks for motorcyclists!
Aline Delhaye said: “The DRL debate is monopolized by road safety and lighting
experts focusing on car drivers’ safety and sales results. However, all of
them completely overlook the “safety-first principle” for other road user
groups. The number of non senses I have heard in Geneva regarding motorcycling
was simply amazing. We are now facing a situation in which everything seems
obvious and we are looked upon as the ugly duckling. Nobody is prepared to
listen to motorcyclists’ (and other vulnerable road users’) concerns although
the latest Transport Research Laboratory report recently confirmed (2) the low
quality of the pro-DRL studies used as reference and underlined several major
motorcycle safety related aspects - such as accident at T-junction - which had
not been investigated nor taken into account in the DRL debate.”
The precaution principle announced by DG TREN did obviously not reach the
outside world; and certainly not Geneva!
END
Note to editors:
1. Etude ACEM sur la visibilité des
moto - <http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-01/esv/esv19/05-0259-O.pdf>
2. The Transport Research Laboratory report on DRL:
<http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/drls/daytimerunninglampsfinalreport>
3. FEMA detailed position on Daytime
Running Lights can be found following this link:
<http://www.fema.ridersrights.org/docs/positionpaper_drl_consultation_nov2006.pdf>
FEMA statement of position:
Because of the very different situations and conditions in the member states,
with no existing viable alternative for motorcycle conspicuity, the recognized
environmental cost, FEMA currently opposes the harmonization of DRL at EU
level. DRL should be left to the appreciation of National governments, in
accordance with motorcyclists and other Vulnerable Road Users’ associations.
Based on all the above facts and figures, the Federation of European
Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) is very concerned by the European
Commission’s intention to introduce compulsory DRL for all vehicles in all
countries. FEMA still believes that the measure will lead to a loss of
conspicuity for motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.
There are sufficient doubts concerning both the quality of some of
the research and the absence of clear evidence demonstrating the
benefits of compulsory DRL for all vehicles from countries where it has been
introduced, to warrant its promotion as an issue for compulsory harmonisation.
While perhaps improving car drivers’ safety, the measure will do so
at the expense of Vulnerable Road Users (VRU), which include
motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians, at a time when the EU is promoting
the use of alternative means of transport, for mobility and environmental
reasons. Conspicuity is a key issue for motorcyclists’ safety. FEMA
believes that the measure of harmonizing DRL at European level is being rushed
through as, up to now, no alternative has proved to be efficient in terms of
re-establishing motorcycle conspicuity. Imposing DRL at European level
now would put VRU at much greater risk.
FEMA is also concerned that it will lead to a shift in the responsibility
for taking appropriate action to minimise a hazardous situation, away from
the car driver onto the motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian - this being in
large part a consequence of the car driver believing that “I have my lights on
so, therefore, I must have been seen by that motorcyclist/cyclist/pedestrian”.
This view is all the more important when the environmental cost of DRL for
all vehicles is recognised. At a time when we are struggling with global
warming, we believe that an energy expending measure such a DRL for all
vehicles should only be introduced if it can be clearly demonstrated that its
appreciable costs are appreciably outweighed by its benefits. We are of the
opinion that this is not the case.
Because of the very different situations and conditions in the member states,
with no existing viable alternative for motorcycle conspicuity, the recognized
environmental cost, FEMA currently opposes the harmonization of DRL at EU
level. DRL should be left to the appreciation of National governments, in
accordance with motorcyclists and other Vulnerable Road Users’ associations.
Contacts:
Aline Delhaye - Secrétaire Générale
Rue des Champs 62, 1040 Brussels, Belgium Phone +32 2 736 9047
Fax: +32 2 736 9401
Mobile +32 484 976 170
virginie.fema@chello.be
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FEMA - Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations
Rue des Champs 62, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 736 9047 / Fax: +32 (0)2 736 9401
http://www.fema.ridersrights.org