FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION: 17th March 2006

Launch of Motorcycling Handbook for Road Planners and Engineers
‘ PTW–SAFER ROAD DESIGN IN EUROPE ’

Transport planners can and must do more to make the road environment safer and more user-friendly for motorcyclists, by introducing measures to integrate PTWs into transport policy and plans, according to a new handbook, published by ACEM. In line with its ‘Plan for Action’ to improve PTW rider safety, it is due to be launched on April 5th at the Infrastructure Conference in Amsterdam.

Improving road safety to save lives of all road users is a high priority for the European Commission and the whole of the Motorcycle Industry in Europe. However, this is a shared responsibility and the new handbook sets out to demonstrate how transport planners and traffic engineers can develop solutions to help reduce motorcycle casualties.

The "PTW-Safer Road Design in Europe" handbook suggests that stakeholders who are responsible for the road planning work together with local agencies to identify and develop solutions which will reduce the number of view obstructions, to improve the line-of-sight conditions on European roadways.

Road designers and traffic engineers need to take into consideration the specific needs of motorcyclists as bikes and scooters have distinctive characteristics which make some features of the road hazardous to riders, but not cars.

The "PTW-Safer Road Design in Europe" handbook covers:

- Integrating motorcycles into transport policies and strategies
- Road design
- Traffic engineering
- Road maintenance
- Traffic management
- Parking provision
- Road safety campaigns
- Elements for PTW road safety audits

The "PTW-Safer Road Design in Europe" handbook builds upon and draws together results from previous studies across Europe. Several countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, The Netherlands and The United Kingdom have produced guidelines for traffic engineering to create safer roads for motorcyclists and as an aid to integrate motorcycle use as part of transport policy and planning.

ACEM’s Secretary General Jacques Compagne said; “The integrated European guidelines from ACEM are an important contribution to an enlarging body of academic and policy work on the important issue of creating a safer road environment for users of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. It is clear that national Governments and local authorities need to do more to create a PTW friendly environment if they wish to realise the motorcycle casualty reductions that we all seek. Industry urges responsibles in charge of infrastructure to act upon the recommendations of the ACEM guidelines and the existing national handbook when available.”

ENDS

Editor’s Note

1. The European Industry of Motorised Two-Wheelers fully endorse the European Commission’s objective of halving the numbers of road casualties – for all categories of vehicles – on European roads by the year 2010 (Road Safety Charter). Its Action Plan for PTW safety provides a wide range of initiatives currently being implemented. More information on http://www.acembike.org/

2. ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles) is the professional association of the Motorcycle Industry in Europe and represents 11 manufacturers and 12 associations at European level. The product range goes from 50cc town vehicles, up to motorcycles with 1000cc and more. ACEM Members are responsible for 85% of the total production and up to 90% of the total market in Europe. More information about ACEM

For more information, pictures or interviews opportunities, please contact Aline Delhaye on Tel: +32 2 235 07 03 Mobile: +32 475 789 143, email a*.delhaye@acembike.org (remove star).