Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs): Lessons learned and future challenges

Carmen GirónGeneral Traffic Directorate (DGT)

Brussels, June 2010

Recent developments

In 2007, Powered Two Wheelers entered, for the first time, the Spanish road safety agenda on its own foot:

More than 4 million vehicles (14,5% of the total number of vehicles) and a growth rate in the last three years of up to 40%.

Contribution to the overall figures was (and still is) much higher than its relative importance:

- 8% of vehicles involved in accidents.

- 25% of victims.

- 17% of total deaths in traffic accidents.

It was (and is not any more) the only way of transport whose number of deaths and severely injured was rising. Between 2003 and 2007:

- the number of motorcyclist killed on roads rose by 77%.

- the number of severely injured in urban areas rose by 74%.

During 2007, DGT sets-up and leads a working group devoted to draw-up and implement a Road Safety Plan for Motorcycles and Mopeds.

The Plan bases on the Shared Vision of its 12 stakeholders.

The joint work comprised obtaining:

1. A common understanding of the problem

2. A clear definition of priorities and

3. A consensus with respect to the solutions

It is worth noticing that not every working group member agreed with all the countermeasures proposed by the plan: consensus does not mean full-agreement!

In January 2008, the Road Safety Plan begins implementation.

Recent developments

The solution tree was structured into 4 areas:

Preparing motor bikers for safe driving

Minimization of high-siniestrality scenarios

Avoiding risky practices

Adopting alleviating measures

These 4 fields of action are in turn subdivided into12 programs that frame the 36 measures proposed in the Plan.

The measures must be "filled-in" with specific actions. The plan provides with 24 actions to be implemented during the first year.

The PTW Road Safety Plan

Latest trends in Roads: Deaths as of end-March 2010(only motorcyclists) - (24 hours data)

Motorcyclists Deaths - Roads

Fuente: DGT. National Road Safety Observatory

The Plan set as strategic objective to reverse the upward trend in the number of killed and seriously injured.

76 95 117 119 143 119 116 76

233274

319 324

425

307283

0

100

200

300

400

500

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Acum

ulad

o An

ual

Acumulado Año

Acumulado Mayo

High risk profile (50% of deaths): male over 35 years old, many

years as license-holder, riding PTW less than 2 years old in secondary

bendy roads

Total year

As of end-May

Moto

rcyclist

kille

d

Selected actions...and lessons learned

7

A specific mass media communication campaign on PTW safety is cost-effective: Mass-media communication campaign in 2008 and 2009

Key aspects:

Themes: risk driving and need for bikers and drivers to sharing the road.

Multichannel: radio, press, Internet (www.dgt.es) and TV.

Slogan 1: “If we think in bikes, everything will go on wheels. Cars are not anymore alone, bikes are here to stay”.

Slogan 2: ” Last year 528 bikers died in traffic accidents. That is real, and you can change reality”.

Objectives: Inform the public opinion about an

emerging social drama. Every driver adapts its driving

behaviour to the new situation.

8

Key aspects:

Specific regulation issued by Spanish Central Administration for adapting guardrails in place since 2004. It has inspired the draft standard currently discussed at CEN (European Committee for Standardization).

Spain supports this measure on the basis of empiric evidence: study of 300 accidents with at least one motorcyclist dead. 18% of death bikers show as the most-severe impact the impact against a guardrail (unprotected).

Three complimentary actions:- Ministry of public works: has already protected 1.600 Km

and plans to additionally protect 1.600 Km.- DGT initiated in 2008 a €30 mill budget to co-finance the

protection of guardrails in secondary roads. This initiative has been discontinued in 2010 as a consequence of the Government's deficit reduction policy.

- Regional Governments also active in their own networks.

Objectives: Minimize the severity of bikers' injuries.

Protecting guardrails with special security systems is not a panacea but it does save lives: Guardrails replacement and protection

Improving the access to PTWs: Large social consensus to introduce a more progressive system

Key aspects:

Raise the minimum age required to drive mopeds.

Progressive access.

To incentivate the demand of voluntary safe-driving training courses.

Objectives: Power of the vehicles and drivers' experience are permanently aligned

Ensuring road safety for PTW users in urban areas is a growing priorityDGT is promoting the adoption of PTW-friendly measures by Spanish cities

Key aspects:

Barcelona and Madrid already count on a PTW Safety Plan.

Very high geographic concentration of fatal accidents:

- crossings as the most dangerous scenario in urban area.

- countermeasures: better visibilility of other vehicles, red-light cameras, increase night lighting power.

- Advanced stop areas for bikers at crossings with lights.

A list of off-the-shelf 23 countermeasures already available and prioritised.

DGT participates in ESUM, an ongoing EU-project to identify and disseminate PTW-related best practices in urban areas.

Objectives: Spanish cities are aware of the problem and do put in

place effective policies to improve PTW safety

Special multi-agent campaign for the enforcement and promotion of the use of helmet in Southern Spain

Five thousand years of history

can not be wrong......

Do wear a Helmet!!!

Sponsoring and coordinating multi-agents' communication and enforcement campaigns is a good idea:

There is a need to produce more and better PTW-related information and knowledgeResearch programme on PTWs

Key aspects:

Four priority topics:

- Motorcyclists' profiles.

- Mobility and risk exposure.

- In-depth accident investigation.

- Evaluation of countermeasures.

Project DACOTA:

- Set-up a EU-wide database of in-depth accidents. January 2010 - June 2012.

Project E-sum:

- Best PTW urban road safety practices in Europe.

Project ROSA:

- Promotion and dissemination of countermeasures in 11 European Gran Prixes.

- DGT as sponsor, not a consortium member.

OCDE Working Group to be launched shortly

Objectives: More and better knowledge on PTW

13

www.dgt.esobservatorio@dgt.

es

National Road Safety Observatory

www.motocicletasyseguridadvial.com