Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs): Lessons learned and future challenges Carmen Girón General 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. 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 Motorcyclist killed

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 ( 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 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 Km and plans to additionally protect 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 priority DGT 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

11 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 knowledge Research 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 June  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

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