Today, 1 November 2023, FEMA's General-Secretary Dolf Willigers (66) officially retires from his job. Dolf was a volunteer with a Dutch motorcyclists' organisation since 2000, where he was a member of the board from 2006 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2017. He was also an editor of this organisation's member magazine from 2011 to 2014 where he focused on European issues. Dolf represented the organisation as a delegate to FEMA from 2013 to 2015, when he applied for (and got) the job of FEMA's General-Secretary. In the past eight years we have come to know Dolf as a person that has a deep knowledge of all dossiers concerning motorcyclists' issues. That, combined with his engaging but strong-willed personality, made him well-respected

Digital connectivity between motorcycles, cars and infrastructure is entering a new phase. Recently FEMA joined a test day on the German Lausitzring track. On 14 and 15 September 2023 stakeholders from motorcycle- and car industry, road safety- and research institutions and users’ organisations got the opportunity to see with their own eyes and experience themselves how the new safety features that are developed by the Connected Motorcycle Consortium and its member’s work. FEMA was invited to participate in these demo days. The Connected Motorcycle Consortium (CMC) was founded in 2016 when BMW Motorrad, Honda and Yamaha agreed upon the need to further enhance motorcycle/scooter safety by the means of C-ITS. Since then, a range of manufacturers, suppliers and research institutes joined forces

If you thought the current driving licence directive was a monstrosity, wait until you read some of the proposals in the European Parliament rapporteur’s draft report on the proposal by the European Commission to revise the directive. Perhaps the most bizarre proposal: different speed limits for different vehicles… FEMA considers a proper and balanced driving licence directive as one of the most important instruments for road safety. It should also ensure that it facilitates our citizens in mobility needs. A good driving license system enables citizens of all ages in using their own transport modes to participate in the society, go to school or work and to visit relatives and friends where walking, cycling or public transport are not the best

Sufficient grip is crucial for motorcycles, because motorcycles (normally) have just two wheels: lose grip with one and you are already in trouble. Losing grip not only means sliding but also possible loss of balance and a crash. This is why it is important that the skid resistance measurements of the road authorities meet our needs too, which isn’t the case now. FEMA's Dolf Willigers and SMC's Maria Nordqvist have written a technical report, which includes clear recommendations to road authorities on how to test and improve road friction. Loss of grip can occur when a road surface has lost some of its friction because of wear, because of the weather (water, snow, ice) and because of bitumen bleeding, badly executed repairs,

The European Commission wants to make it mandatory to hand in motorcycles when the have come to 'the end of their life'. FEMA's Wim Taal explains. The European Commission (EC) has recently adopted a Proposal for a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles (end-of-life vehicle means a vehicle which is waste or vehicles that are irreparable). The inclusion of motorcycles in the Regulation could mean the end of so-called home recycling. Recycling of motorcycles and motorcycle parts is an inherent part of motorcycle use. Home recycling, where you end the bike’s registration and take it apart for re-use of its parts, is a significant part of the motorcycle culture. Home recycling helps to keep bikes

At the end of 2022 FEMA received signals about penalties that were issued on behalf of Transport for Londen (but also on behalf of toll road operators in Hungary and Portugal) by an Uzbek company named Euro Parking Collection plc (EPC). We wondered how it was possible that a Dutch motorcyclist (although we heard of people from other countries too) who supposedly violated the London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) rules could be fined by an Uzbek company. FEMA discussed cross-border enforcement with European Parliament Rapporteur Kosma Zlotowski. The EU Cross-border Enforcement Directive provides in exchanging information after violation of a limited number of traffic rules that have a relation to road safety, and there are provisions to exchange data in case of

The European Commission says it sees no need for free choice of motorcycle workshops, following questions by Danish Member of the European Parliament Pernille Weiss. When you buy a new car, there is no need to have it maintained at the dealer where you bought it or another official dealer of the brand of the manufacturer to maintain your warranty. This is ensured by EU-legislation, the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (EU/461/2010) plus a set of Supplementary Guidelines. It is different when you buy a motorcycle because motorcycles are not within the scope of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation. Danish Member of the European Parliament Pernille Weiss (PPE) thinks this is a strange situation and asked the European Commission on the

A measure to limit noise pollution prohibits the use of motorcycles in parts of the High Pyrenees Natural Park (El Parque Natural de los Altos Pirineos). Electric vehicles and cars are not covered by the ban. A ‘Special Noise Quality Zone’ (ZEPQA) was created, with a ban for motorcycles, quads and buggies throughout the year. This makes a large area of 80,000 hectares inaccessible to motorcyclists. The Pyrenees are located in the border area between France, Spain and Andorra. The ban excludes motorcycles from local roads and trails but does not place similar restrictions on cars. 'Unfair discrimination', says Moto de Campo Sostenible. The regulations described in the ‘Action Plan for the declaration of a zone of special protection of acoustic quality in

Cable barriers are banned in some countries, while others still install them, despite the inherent risks for motorcyclists. The main problem with cable barriers - or wire rope fences - are the uprights; in the event of a motorcyclist's fall, these uprights will catch the motorcyclist, with all its horrible consequences. This is no different from other crash barrier variants. One difference is that a motorcyclist who is still on his bike and hits the cable barrier will be led to the uprights, where a standard guardrail has no protruding parts. The argument that cable barriers are a good solution for roads where there is not enough space in the side or central reservation for a 'normal' crash barrier (preferably with motorcyclist

Politicians want us to walk, cycle, or use public transport. Motorcyclists however have different ideas when it comes to commuting, traveling to work. Better ideas, FEMA’s Wim Taal believes. FEMA’s survey on the commuting habits of motorcyclists shows that they use several different vehicles and different ways of travel. This way they adapt to their needs and possibilities on any given day. By investing in different types of vehicles - not just motorcycles - they show a great sense of responsibility and of practical insight. Something that, according to FEMA, should be stimulated and rewarded. For commuters, the year-round motorcycle costs are nearly three times less than operating a car, with gas averaging €545 for riders and €1,435 for drivers. Motorbikes are also

Six member states of the European Union will not sign the regulation to ban the sale of new cars and vans with an internal combustion engine from 2035. FEMA's Dolf Willigers says this affects motorcycles too. Motorcycles are still not mentioned in the plans to decarbonize road transport in the European Union. Still, new developments from March 2023 may also have an effect on motorcycles. On 27 October 2022, the European Commission, European Parliament, and the member states, united in the Council of the European Union, reached an agreement in the so-called trilogue about the emission limits for cars and vans. After a few steps to lower the emission of the fleet, from 2035 the sale of new cars that emit

The European Commission has published its Road Safety Package. Part of it is a proposal for a new Driving License Directive. The new elements are mainly the introduction of a digital driving licence and harmonization of renewing licences. In general, FEMA asks for a change of direction from the present focus on technical skills at low speeds to higher skills that leads to better risk awareness and preparation to handle unexpected situations. This can be done without raising the threshold to obtain a full A-licence by making different choices and to make it easier to go through the stages from A1 to A. We also draw attention to the present structure of the Directive regarding training- and test motorcycles which makes that