MOTORCYCLE INDUSTY IN EUROPE SIGN NEW COMMITMENT

3rd ACEM Annual Conference Supports “Shared Responsibility” in Road Safety

Mr Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of transport and
Dr Herbert Diess, President of ACEM At the European Road Safety Charter event

During the Road Safety Excellence Awards ceremony held yesterday in Brussels, the Motorcycle Industry in Europe signed a new commitment to the European Road Safety Charter. In the presence of Mr Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of transport, Dr Herbert Diess, the President of ACEM, signed a commitment regarding new safety-oriented promotion and advertising guidelines supported by all ACEM powered two-wheeler manufacturers. The general aim of the ACEM Promotion & Advertising guidelines is to ensure that all promotion & advertisements for powered two-wheelers destined for use on public roads show the powered two-wheelers used in a safe and responsible manner, in order to positively influence the attitude of the user.

The Speakers at the 3rd ACEM Annual Conference Ms Cristina Pou, Ms Ewa Hedkvist Petersen MEP, Dr Herbert Diess, Dr Stefan Tostmann, Mr Jacques Compagne, Mr Tony Sharp
This renewed ACEM commitment to the European Road Safety Charter was also part of the message delivered by the 3rd ACEM Annual Conference "Improving Motorcycling Safety: a Shared Responsibility", held on the 21st November at the Residence Palace in Brussels. Jacques Compagne, the Secretary General of ACEM, presented the review of the Motorcycle Industry's plan for action, highlighting current and future initiatives in the field of road safety. Presentations were also made by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (European Parliament), Stefan Tostmann (European Commission), Cristina Pou (Barcelona City Council) and Tony Sharp (Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers, UK). An exhibition of ACEM individual manufacturers' safety innovations took place during the lunch.

Attended by participants from the EU institutions and from all over Europe, the ACEM Conference involved public authorities and private transport stakeholders in a constructive exchange. Herbert Diess summed up the different contributions made during the event underlining the shared goal of improving motorcycling safety, through a holistic approach seeking to involve all stakeholders in an informed and knowledge-based decision-making process. A special emphasis was put on the need to integrate powered two-wheelers in transport policy and in road safety plans at European, National and local levels, to make the most of their mobility advantages, in particular in urban areas. Finally, the safety contribution of properly designed and maintained road infrastructure was also supported by all Speakers.

Commenting on the ACEM Conference and the new commitment to the European Road Safety Charter, Dr Diess said: "The challenge of improving road safety must be looked at positively, with the support and through the joint actions of all stakeholders. ACEM is looking forward to more opportunities for co-operation in this important area."

ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles) is the professional association of the Motorcycle Industry in Europe and represents 11 manufacturers and 12 associations at European level. The product range goes from 50cc mopeds up to motorcycles with 1000cc and more. ACEM Members are responsible for 90% of the total production and up to 95% of the total market in Europe. The motorcycle industry business is worth 10 billion Euro to the European economy and employs over 200,000 people in the EU Member States

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