Priorities on Motorcycle World-wide Standards

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Eamonn Townsend

Priorities on Motorcycle World-wide Standards

Post by Eamonn Townsend »

Priorities on Motorcycle World-wide Standards: FEMA's points included

Riders' views on priorities for global standards have been recognised by the Working Party 29 (WP.29) dealing with the drafting of world-wide technical regulations within the United Nations' Economic Committee for Europe (UNECE). This appeared when the WP.29 considered and adopted its next issues of priority at their meeting in Geneva earlier this month during their session of 12-14th March 2002.

FEMA attends meetings in the Helvetian city to represent riders on behalf of the International Co-operation formed with its sister organisations, AMA (American Motorcyclist Association), FIM (Fidiration Internationale de Motocyclisme) and MRF (Motorcycle Riders Foundation). FEMA had previously submitted a document on the subject, expressing the riders' points of view on what should be these priorities. Officially called "Informal document", it was considered by the WP.29, and the main points expressed are now included in the final list of priorities for this Working Party.

Two motorcycle issues have been incorporated in the list and, importantly, these are only looking into test procedures and not limit or performance values. There are braking performance and the development of the World Motorcycle Test Cycle (Globally harmonised test cycle to measure motorcycle exhaust emissions).

FEMA strongly believes that Global technical regulations should only be given priority in Geneva when they deal with test cycle or performance measurements, and should only consider limit values when national standards are the same or very similar. This in order to avoid significant changes in the countries signatories to the UN agreements... Particularly if these changes would result in highest and strictest standards with no consideration given to their benefit for the user compared to the costs involved in their implementation.

Very interestingly, the WP.29 also decided to include in their list of priorities a Global technical regulation intended to make car fronts safer for pedestrians. In Europe, this subject is currently being considered through a commitment from the car industry, whilst the European Parliament is considering whether this issue would be better dealt with through a directive.

Bob Tomlins, FEMA Acting General Secretary, present at this UNECE Session, said: "Whilst we are often frustrated by the arcane procedures that apply in Geneva, I am very pleased with this outcome. It does seem that the users/consumers' point of view has been listened to. Let us hope that the views and the needs of riders will continue to be recognised".
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