Reflective motorcycle clothing in France
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:59 am
MAG petitions UK Parliament: resist the spread of compulsory hi-viz in Europe
Following confirmation that hi-viz is to become compulsory in France from 2013 (see story below) and
Ireland from 2014, MAG member Jon Wilmer (Regional Rep for Thames Valley) has launched a petition
calling on the British Government to put pressure on the European Commission to discipline any member
state that imposes clothing standards such as hi-viz on motorcycle riders.
The e-petition http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26931 has gone live and runs for 3 months.
A recent review of road safety studies carried out by Plymouth University on behalf of Cornwall County
council, demonstrates that the evidence for the road safety benefits of hi-viz clothing is unclear. Some
studies finding that riders who wear reflective or fluorescent clothing are around one-third less likely to be
involved in a crash, but other studies finding no such benefit.
MAG says that questions such as whether safer riders are more likely to choose to wear hi-viz, whether the
colour of bike/clothing has more or less visual impact depending on the colour of the background or the
prevailing weather demonstrate that the case for compulsory use at all times and in all circumstances is
fundamentally flawed.
ACTION: add your name to the petition now...
French Hi-Viz Law Announced – impact will be felt by riders across Europe
The French Government has issued a Decree to introduce new road safety laws that will affect riders from
1 January 2013:
Users of two-wheeled motor vehicles larger than 125 cc MUST wear clothing with a reflective area of at
least 150 cm² (not necessarily yellow) somewhere between the waist and shoulders.
Dimensions for motorcycle number plates have been increased and the fine for not conforming is increased
to €135.
The possession, transport and use of speed-limit "warning radars" is banned (€1,500 fine).
Fines are increased for the use of a hand-held phone (€135), or watching a television screen (€1,500), or
blocking/crossing emergency lanes (€135).
The French riders group, FFMC, say the new requirement for hi-viz is only symbolic (it works only at night
and does not meet the original claim that it will protect an injured rider lying in the road) and so the penalty
fine and license points are not justified. FFMC fear that riding without a small reflective item will become
considered almost as bad as driving without a helmet , even if you are wearing a full leather armour, on a
bike with the headlights on (NB: in France the law already requires the helmet to be fitted with 4 reflective
stickers). Finally, FFMC point out that the new law will NOT include the mopeds and 125cc and ask why
the law is so inconsistent? With French elections due in 2012 FFMC hope to be able to overturn the law.
MAG policy is to defend the rider's freedom of choice over riding equipment such as hi-viz and other types
of clothing with various safety features.
link for all relevant petitions on the UK government website http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/search?q=motorcycle
3
You don't need to be UK resident to sign the e-petition, just a British Citizen.
You will also have noticed that although the hi-viz argument is getting all the attention there are other issues at stake here, like the ban on filtering for instance.
Following confirmation that hi-viz is to become compulsory in France from 2013 (see story below) and
Ireland from 2014, MAG member Jon Wilmer (Regional Rep for Thames Valley) has launched a petition
calling on the British Government to put pressure on the European Commission to discipline any member
state that imposes clothing standards such as hi-viz on motorcycle riders.
The e-petition http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26931 has gone live and runs for 3 months.
A recent review of road safety studies carried out by Plymouth University on behalf of Cornwall County
council, demonstrates that the evidence for the road safety benefits of hi-viz clothing is unclear. Some
studies finding that riders who wear reflective or fluorescent clothing are around one-third less likely to be
involved in a crash, but other studies finding no such benefit.
MAG says that questions such as whether safer riders are more likely to choose to wear hi-viz, whether the
colour of bike/clothing has more or less visual impact depending on the colour of the background or the
prevailing weather demonstrate that the case for compulsory use at all times and in all circumstances is
fundamentally flawed.
ACTION: add your name to the petition now...
French Hi-Viz Law Announced – impact will be felt by riders across Europe
The French Government has issued a Decree to introduce new road safety laws that will affect riders from
1 January 2013:
Users of two-wheeled motor vehicles larger than 125 cc MUST wear clothing with a reflective area of at
least 150 cm² (not necessarily yellow) somewhere between the waist and shoulders.
Dimensions for motorcycle number plates have been increased and the fine for not conforming is increased
to €135.
The possession, transport and use of speed-limit "warning radars" is banned (€1,500 fine).
Fines are increased for the use of a hand-held phone (€135), or watching a television screen (€1,500), or
blocking/crossing emergency lanes (€135).
The French riders group, FFMC, say the new requirement for hi-viz is only symbolic (it works only at night
and does not meet the original claim that it will protect an injured rider lying in the road) and so the penalty
fine and license points are not justified. FFMC fear that riding without a small reflective item will become
considered almost as bad as driving without a helmet , even if you are wearing a full leather armour, on a
bike with the headlights on (NB: in France the law already requires the helmet to be fitted with 4 reflective
stickers). Finally, FFMC point out that the new law will NOT include the mopeds and 125cc and ask why
the law is so inconsistent? With French elections due in 2012 FFMC hope to be able to overturn the law.
MAG policy is to defend the rider's freedom of choice over riding equipment such as hi-viz and other types
of clothing with various safety features.
link for all relevant petitions on the UK government website http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/search?q=motorcycle
3
You don't need to be UK resident to sign the e-petition, just a British Citizen.
You will also have noticed that although the hi-viz argument is getting all the attention there are other issues at stake here, like the ban on filtering for instance.
