Wolfie
Is a lunp
New Euro Licence Unfair, Unnecessary, Undemocratic and Unworkable.
This week?s decision by the European Parliament?s Council of Ministers to agree a Common Position on the Third EC Driving Licence Directive, (without discussion of the text or any changes to the motorcycling proposals), has been slammed as both undemocratic and autocratic by the 140,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation.
Having lobbied extensively on the topic, the BMF say that while it accepts that the harmonisation of driving licence formats across the EU has some logic to it, the proposed motorcycling measures contained in the Directive are an unnecessary bolt-on. They are unduly complex, will act as a disincentive to anyone contemplating taking up motorcycling and, due to their complexity, will be difficult to interpret, apply and enforce. In themselves they will do nothing to improve road safety but their complexity will lead to less compliance with a possible negative effect on road safety.
The BMF does not object to the Directive?s sensible road safety measures aimed at keeping dangerous drivers off the road, protecting against fraud and the prevention of `licence tourism', but says that the motorcycling aspects have been forced through without proper consideration. Senior Government Relations Executive Trevor Magner said: ?This is typical of the lack of democracy in the EU, treating its citizens with contempt.?
The BMF are calling on the UK Government and the support of other EU Governments and Members of the European Parliament to support its position of requesting that the motorcycling proposals should be deleted and be revisited at a later time
Commenting further, the BMF's Trevor Magner said: ?We?re very disappointed at this turn of events. The proposals in the draft Directive are diametrically opposed to the UK Government's own Motorcycling Strategy. We made a good case within the UK to constructively address safety issues but these EU proposals are inept, ill-conceived and will do nothing to improve safety.?
The UK?s Minister for Transport, Dr Stephen Ladyman abstained on the decision but this was of little comfort say the BMF. The BMF have now written to all UK MPs asking them to press Dr Ladyman to be more robust in supporting the motorcycle community's position at the Council of Ministers and to be more diligent in seeking allies from other EU member Governments.
The BMF is now seeking:
Removal of the motorcycling measures from the Directive
Proposing a separate motorcycling directive in 3 years
A review of existing research and reviewing best practice to inform the new directive
The BMF say that a failure to discuss the implications and to follow a transparent and democratic course of action will only lead to more cynicism about Europe - especially in the UK.
Trevor Magner went on to say: ?It's outrageous that the EU has got away with this with apparently no opposition. The motorcycling elements of the 3rd EC DLD are of no safety value and will merely make motorcycling less accessible with a commensurate reduction in the benefits of motorcycling to society such as addressing social exclusion, congestion and the take up of land for road building and car parks. I further find it odd that the UK Government has claimed that it was unable to find allies to support its reservations about the motorcycling proposals when we now know that the Swedish Government has made exactly the same claim!?
The BMF are now calling for a full Second Reading in the European Parliament (rather than simply a formal reading as the Council is requesting of MEPs) and have also complained over how the EU institutions have handled this.
The BMF will also be attending the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Motorcycling Conference being held at Salisbury City Hall, Sunday 23rd April and urges all motorcyclists and MEPs, regardless of their political affiliations, to attend.
ENDS
Note:
The Third EU Driving Licence Directive will mean that the minimum age for riding motorcycles over 125cc rises from 17 to 19, and the minimum age for direct access to a larger machine rises from 21 to 24 - all this without any evidence of a safety benefit, say the BMF. Equally, further hurdles in the shape of new categories of motorcycle licences, with three categories in all, involving two-yearly steps between bikes of different engine sizes and extra riding tests between steps would be introduced ? again with no identified safety benefits.
The new measures, due to be introduced by 2012, have completely ignored research say the BMF that showed that the major cause of motorcycle accidents were low-speed collisions in an urban environment - more often than not the fault of the other driver - not the rider. This was just one of the conclusions of the recent two and a half million euro (?2.5 million) ?Motorcycle Accidents In Depth Study? (MAIDS), funded by European taxpayers, the motorcycle industry and other bodies, including the BMF.
MAIDS research showed that the three key factors in rider safety are the behaviour of other road users, rider experience and the road environment, but the Directive has ignored these.
Issued by BMF Media and PR Manager Jeff Stone:
t 0121 709 1040
m: 07802 763094
e: jeff.stone@bmf.co.uk
This week?s decision by the European Parliament?s Council of Ministers to agree a Common Position on the Third EC Driving Licence Directive, (without discussion of the text or any changes to the motorcycling proposals), has been slammed as both undemocratic and autocratic by the 140,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation.
Having lobbied extensively on the topic, the BMF say that while it accepts that the harmonisation of driving licence formats across the EU has some logic to it, the proposed motorcycling measures contained in the Directive are an unnecessary bolt-on. They are unduly complex, will act as a disincentive to anyone contemplating taking up motorcycling and, due to their complexity, will be difficult to interpret, apply and enforce. In themselves they will do nothing to improve road safety but their complexity will lead to less compliance with a possible negative effect on road safety.
The BMF does not object to the Directive?s sensible road safety measures aimed at keeping dangerous drivers off the road, protecting against fraud and the prevention of `licence tourism', but says that the motorcycling aspects have been forced through without proper consideration. Senior Government Relations Executive Trevor Magner said: ?This is typical of the lack of democracy in the EU, treating its citizens with contempt.?
The BMF are calling on the UK Government and the support of other EU Governments and Members of the European Parliament to support its position of requesting that the motorcycling proposals should be deleted and be revisited at a later time
Commenting further, the BMF's Trevor Magner said: ?We?re very disappointed at this turn of events. The proposals in the draft Directive are diametrically opposed to the UK Government's own Motorcycling Strategy. We made a good case within the UK to constructively address safety issues but these EU proposals are inept, ill-conceived and will do nothing to improve safety.?
The UK?s Minister for Transport, Dr Stephen Ladyman abstained on the decision but this was of little comfort say the BMF. The BMF have now written to all UK MPs asking them to press Dr Ladyman to be more robust in supporting the motorcycle community's position at the Council of Ministers and to be more diligent in seeking allies from other EU member Governments.
The BMF is now seeking:
Removal of the motorcycling measures from the Directive
Proposing a separate motorcycling directive in 3 years
A review of existing research and reviewing best practice to inform the new directive
The BMF say that a failure to discuss the implications and to follow a transparent and democratic course of action will only lead to more cynicism about Europe - especially in the UK.
Trevor Magner went on to say: ?It's outrageous that the EU has got away with this with apparently no opposition. The motorcycling elements of the 3rd EC DLD are of no safety value and will merely make motorcycling less accessible with a commensurate reduction in the benefits of motorcycling to society such as addressing social exclusion, congestion and the take up of land for road building and car parks. I further find it odd that the UK Government has claimed that it was unable to find allies to support its reservations about the motorcycling proposals when we now know that the Swedish Government has made exactly the same claim!?
The BMF are now calling for a full Second Reading in the European Parliament (rather than simply a formal reading as the Council is requesting of MEPs) and have also complained over how the EU institutions have handled this.
The BMF will also be attending the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Motorcycling Conference being held at Salisbury City Hall, Sunday 23rd April and urges all motorcyclists and MEPs, regardless of their political affiliations, to attend.
ENDS
Note:
The Third EU Driving Licence Directive will mean that the minimum age for riding motorcycles over 125cc rises from 17 to 19, and the minimum age for direct access to a larger machine rises from 21 to 24 - all this without any evidence of a safety benefit, say the BMF. Equally, further hurdles in the shape of new categories of motorcycle licences, with three categories in all, involving two-yearly steps between bikes of different engine sizes and extra riding tests between steps would be introduced ? again with no identified safety benefits.
The new measures, due to be introduced by 2012, have completely ignored research say the BMF that showed that the major cause of motorcycle accidents were low-speed collisions in an urban environment - more often than not the fault of the other driver - not the rider. This was just one of the conclusions of the recent two and a half million euro (?2.5 million) ?Motorcycle Accidents In Depth Study? (MAIDS), funded by European taxpayers, the motorcycle industry and other bodies, including the BMF.
MAIDS research showed that the three key factors in rider safety are the behaviour of other road users, rider experience and the road environment, but the Directive has ignored these.
Issued by BMF Media and PR Manager Jeff Stone:
t 0121 709 1040
m: 07802 763094
e: jeff.stone@bmf.co.uk