|
A Better Care for the New Motorcyclist
Issued 28th May 2008
Newly qualified riders failing to recognize hazards, and pre-license training that has overly focused on machine control skills is a relation that has been recognised for a long time. Today, the motorcyclists themselves present a remedy for this disalignment in the pre-license training, namely the Initial Riders Training programme.
The IRT programme delivers machine controls skills relevant to today’s roads. The modular structure and pedagogical approach offer real improvement to pre-license training available to riders within the European Union.
The programme has been developed for use in a training environment, but it can also be utilised in informal training situations such as assistance to the family member or friend, motorcycle club or safety organisation seeking to promote safe riding skills, in circumstances where professional training is not available.
FEMA, with the support of its partners (FIM and ACEM), firmly believes that improved pre-license training can reduce the number of riders killed and injured. This is why the IRT project was set up in the first place, and it gained the support of the European Commission, Vägverket (the Swedish road traffic authority) and IVV, the International Instructors’ organisation.
Working with recognised experts covering a range of motorcycling, academic and road safety interests, the IRT project has considered pre-license rider training in Europe being variable in quality and availability. These problems will effectively be addressed in the programme.
The IRT Project also considers the innovative area of e-Coaching to improve initial rider training by exposing riders to virtual hazardous situations without putting them at risk. The addition of a fourth e-Coaching element could further improve the training offered in IRT.
The IRT project results will be officially presented at a Conference-Debate jointly organised by The Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission (DG TREN) and the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) on Wednesday May 28th, 2007.
END
Note to editors:
1. The Initial Rider Training website: www.initialridertraining.eu
2. The Initial Rider Training Project (2007) - Developing a European Approach to the Initial Training of motorcyclists: www.initialridertraining.eu/docs/2007_IRTFinalReport.pdf
3. The Initial Rider Training Project (1997) - The views and the needs of the rider
www.initialridertraining.eu/docs/1997_IRTFinalReport.pdf
Contact:
Virginie Peters – Campaigns Officer
Rue des Champs 62, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Phone +32 2 736 9047
Fax: +32 2 736 9401
campaigns@fema-online.eu
FEMA - Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations
Rue des Champs 62, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 736 9047
Fax: +32 (0)2 736 9401
www.fema.ridersrights.org
|
