Mandatory measures on reflective products

reflective raincoat children

The interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, announced in December 2014 that he would take measures to improve safety on the roads of France, in January, 2015.

Among these, a common core all vehicles in connection with the fight against alcohol and drug abuse, the use of the Smartphone while driving, but also three specific measures for bikers, including the mandatory detention a high visibility safety vest under the seat.

The Interior Minister did not increase the pressure on drivers but is pushed by the first estimates on statistics of accidents last year: the National Road Safety Observatory (ONISR) reported late December 3416 we should reach the Hexagon killed on roads during the 12 months of 2014, against 3,268 in 2013, or about 150 more deaths. The time is however more to over-repression, as was the case some years ago. There is increase in deaths and accidents, of course, but it does not hoisted 2014 to a level higher than in 2012 (3.653 deaths). “2013 was an exceptional year,” said the inter-ministerial delegate for road safety, Jean-Robert Lopez.

So we should stay foot on the brake pedal towards the place Beauvais. And the minister would simply endorse the proposals made in the plenary meetings of the National Road Safety Council (NSRC) in 2013 and 2014: an experiment lowering to 80 km / h speed limit on some departmental bidirectional only. The more draconian the appearance remains formidable double-sided radar, but only to replace obsolete in booths. The total number of radars will not exceed 4,200 units.

Specific attention to bikers, the implementation of measures recommended at the June NSRC … 2013: the obligation to hold a reflective vest, on a par with car drivers and trucks; vest that will be donned in case of accidental stop on the side of the road as by car. Moreover, the minister should announce one size number plates, set at 210 x 130 mm; plates which are already filled most of the two-wheeler since 2009. Finally, experimentation of interfile circulation should know a top start in September 2015.

“The detention of high visibility vest in the vehicle can be considered vis-à-vis equity pledge of other drivers”, translated Nathanael Ganglier, general delegate of the French Federation of angry bikers (FFMC). “This is not an evolution of reflective armband, which is behind us.”

FMWC remains opposed to any obligation, but stands behind the idea of an equal treatment for all types of vehicles. “Actually, this is not a road safety measure in the sense that the proportion of injuries among two-wheeler drivers who are hanging while they are out on the edge of the road, compared to all motorcycle injuries, is extremely low, “says Nathanael.

Put on his jacket on the roadside might even be a vehicle for road safety … In discussions at NSRC, the FFMC has highlighted the specifics of riding a motorcycle, “The motorcyclist stopped on the side risk of endangering themselves whether to get off his vehicle and lift the saddle to grab and put on his reflective jacket, feared Nathanael. We hope that the Minister will exercise a little common sense when considering this solution. ”

We will know in January if this argument was heard. The ministry did not specify the exact date announcements about road safety, but we guess it will be around January 20, when ONISR will be able to unveil the statistics of accidents that occurred in France during the month of December 2014.

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