Bikers will not need armbands
A Sarkozy government plan to make motorbike users wear yellow armbands from January 1 is put on hold
RIDERS of motorbikes will not, after all, have to wear reflective yellow armbands as of January 1.
Interior Minister Manuel Valls has said he wants to take longer to evaluate the requirement, which was fixed in a decree earlier this year for riders of most motorbikes (above 125cc).
A spokesman for campaign group Motards en Colère (“Angry Bikers”), said – despite the name: “We are very satisfied with this announcement because the famous armband is nonsensical.”
The group had previously described the measure as a “provocation” by the previous government, useless for bikers’ safety.
Mr Valls made the announcement on launching a new programme of work for the Conseil National de Sécurité Routière (CNSR), which will look into road safety improvements, including for motorbike riders who are the group the most at risk – they represent 23% of road users killed in accidents but just 1.9% of traffic. Bikers using bus lanes will be among the issues discussed.
The CNSR has been given an overall task of finding ways to meet a new objective of halving road deaths by 2020 – from 3,963 last year to under 2,000. It will look at issues surrounding those most at risk (eg. the bikers and young people) and aggravating factors like speeding, alcohol and drugs.
Although dormant since 2008 the council consists of around 50 members including politicians and representatives of associations, businesses and insurers.
Photo: www.missdeuxroues.fr
