National Motorcycle safety action plan - Road Safety Authority

4 Equipment and Technology
4.1 Overview
4.1.1 This chapter considers aspects of motorcycle design and the technology available to
improve safety for motorcyclists and includes the following sections:
• Vehicle design
• Protective clothing
• Visibility and daylight running lights
• Fuel Spillages
4.2 Vehicle design and Testing
Motorcycle Design
4.2.2 Good machine design can reduce injuries. The European Motorcycle Accident In
Depth Study (MAIDS report), which investigated collisions involving motorcyclists in
five European Countries, focused on collating data from collisions relating to the
physical design of the vehicle(s) involved in the collision as well as contributory
factors and the resultant casualties of the collision. The Advisory Group on
Motorcycling (AGM) 19 considered that the results of this research could provide
useful insights and supporting information on the main areas to improve safety.
4.2.3 A safety rating system, similar to that used for new cars (EuroNCAP), could be a
useful tool providing the consumer with information regarding the safety of individual
vehicle designs.
4.2.4 From June 1999, new motorcycle types or models became subject to a new system
of ‘European Whole Vehicle Type Approval’ (EWVTA) which:
• Harmonised construction requirements and standards throughout the EU and;
• Requires independent approval and verification through government agencies
4.2.5 Successful braking without losing control is often more difficult for motorcyclists than
for drivers of four wheeled vehicles, due to the former being more difficult to balance,
and because such vehicles often have separate rear and front brake controls 20
4.2.6 In a special study on the role of braking in collisions, Sporner 21 , used a sample
of 502 injury collisions in 2001-2002 in Germany. It was estimated that between 10-
15 collisions may have been avoided, and a further 30 would have resulted in less
serious injuries if the rider had been able to use an anti locking brake system (ABS),
as use of such brakes was considered to have reduced collision speeds and
lessened the risk of loss of control. However the introduction of anti-lock braking
systems on motorcycles which can help improve stability of the vehicle has been
restricted due to cost.
4.2.7 The Motorcycle Safety Action Plan will support European initiatives to improve
motorcycle design and braking systems including EuroNCAP for motorcycles.
19 source: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/cyclingandmotorcycling/sorygrouponmotorcyclingf4638.pdf
20 source: ERSO website: Powered Two Wheelers - Use of Powered Two Wheelers
21 source: ERSO website: Powered Two Wheelers – Prevention of Accidents – Braking a PTW
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