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FIM SUPPORTS “STOP THE CRASH!” - SHANGHAI, CHINA
The campaign moved on from the last event earlier this year in Bangkok, Thailand to meet with the Chinese public in Shanghai. A range of car and motorcycle safety technologies were demonstrated using specially designed facilities (next to the Formula One
On the motorcycle side, a strong focus was placed on anti-lock braking systems (ABS). These are standard on new motorcycles above 125cc in the European Union since last year. Most manufacturers are also fitting ABS to 125’s.
In Asia and Latin America this is not the case although India will follow the example of EU law in 2018 and require ABS on all new motorcycles and scooters above 125cc with the option of a “combined” braking system as an alternative on 125’s.
The organiser of this campaign, which has another two years to run with two events every year, is Global NCAP. The partner in China was CARTAC ,the Chinese Automotive Research Centre. CARTAC also reaches out to the public and media, acting as a road safety advocate in addition to their role as vehicle regulator in China.
At a conference preceding the demonstrations, there was also a strong focus on AHO (Automatic Headlights On) technology. It is actually cheaper than fitting an “on/off” switch, but again this is only seen on motorcycles and scooters sold in the west. With AHO, riders can be seen more easily by fellow motorcyclists and other road users .
FIM Director of Public Affairs John Chatterton-Ross commented:
“On behalf of FIM our thanks go to Global NCAP Secretary-General David Ward for the invitation to attend and support this event. There is a real momentum to this campaign now with the good news from India. We also thank the hosts CARTAC. It was an honour to have the opportunity to attend a Board meeting where plans for the 2018 road safety campaign in China were discussed. It is vital that we keep maximum focus on the small motorcycles and scooters, which are by far the most popular two wheelers in middle- and low-income countries across the world.”
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