|
Print this page
Email page
ATVEA News27 October 2008 A fruitful week for ATVEAATVEA has been active and successful on several fronts at the end of October. ATVEA participated on the 20th October in the Motorcycle Working Group chaired by the Unit in charge of the Automotive Industry in the European Commission. Ben van Assche, Chairman of the Technical Committee, Fred Soudain, ATVEA Secretary General and Xavier Noyon, ATVEA Brussels senior representative were present in this meeting gathering Member states type approval authorities and industry representatives. The aim of this meeting was to present the options and scenario which the Commission is considering for the recast of the 2002/24 Directive (homologation of 2-3 wheels motor vehicles, which includes ATVs). Two studies have been commissioned one on aspects relating to safety the other one on the emissions of motorcycles. These two studies should allow the Commission to better assess the impact of the different options presented. ATVEA had the opportunity to present its views as a complement to the position presented by ATVEA in a written response to the Commission’s “non-paper” where the Commission requested comments from the participants on specific questions, insisting on the need for better categorisation and the necessity of homologation. Most of the representatives of Member states expressed their understanding of the necessity for homologation and highlighted their wish to have a clearer and stricter framework for type-approval of quadricycles. In order to build upon this interesting exchange of views, ATVEA has proposed to organise a demo-day on the specificities of ATV the day before the next MCWG in early 2009. Again in the field of technical activities, ATVEA (with Ben van Assche and Fred Soudain) participated on the 23rd October in the WP29/GRSG meeting in Geneva, in the framework of the UN-ECE, the Economic Commission for Europe inside the United Nations. The aim of this series of meetings is to discuss the idea of regulating the categorisation of vehicles at ECE level (regrouping 56 countries). The European Commission, speaking in the name of the 27 member states of the European Union, had earlier presented plans to transfer the work on categorisation to the working groups of WP29. ATVEA has been questioning the relevance of this idea since the beginning arguing that the specific situation of ATV in the EU should be dealt with at EU level. On the 23rd October, the European Commission actually decided to withdraw its proposal, since the common position of EU Member states on this topic is not clear. ATVEA made an important step forward the implementation of a program of Education of ATV users in France. On the 23rd October, ATVEA (with Jos Wagner, President of the Education Committee plus Xavier Noyon and Matthieu Bertrand, ATVEA Brussels representatives) has organised a meeting with representatives from EASI (the European ATV Safety Institute) the FFM, ( Fédération Française de Motocyclisme) and representatives from the French ATV manufacturers. The meeting resulted in the agreement that all present stakeholders will collaborate in implementing a test-project in 2009, before a full scale roll-out in 2010. EASI would provide the content and insure a quality control, FFM would provide its network of educators and trainers as well as training locations, and the manufacturers/distributors would be in charge of financing the project and of promoting it towards end-users via their dealer-networks. The next meeting will be held at the end of November in FFM’s headquarters in Paris mainly to discuss the budget sharing, to choose the region for the demo-project and to fine-tune the functioning of the project.
October 2008 ATVEA to organise a high-level meeting to implement a users-education programme in France On the 22nd of October, ATVEA will gather the key stakeholders in France in order to implement a broad ATV-users-education program. ATVEA will facilitate this meeting between representatives of the main manufacturers in France, officials of the Fédération Française de Motocyclisme and representatives from the European ATV Safety Institute. The goal of this meeting is to find an agreement on the cooperation aiming at implementing a user-education programme in France. The basic idea is that every buyer of ATV will be offered the possibility to attend a half-day training about the proper handling and responsible use of ATV. One of ATVEA main objectives is to promote the safe and responsible use of ATVs. In this respect, users' education is crucial. ATVEA already managed to implement such a programme in the UK, in collaboration with the European ATV Safety Institute. ATVEA wants now to use this successful experience to implement a similar programme in France. August 2008 ATVEA invited by the European Commission for a stakeholder consultation on safety. In the framework of the recast of the European Directive 2002/24 related to motorcycles type-approuval, the European Commission is assessing the possible new measures for the safety of category L vehicles. This category regroups motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles such as micro-cars and ATVs. ATVEA has been selected by the European Commission to bring its expertise regarding ATVs safety. TRL (Transport Research Laboratory, an independent research & consultancy body in the field of transport) is organising the consultation on the behalf of the European Commission. The meeting will be held on the 8th of September at the European Commission in Brussels.
June 2008 ATVEA formally accepted as the ATV industry representative for the standardisation works within the CEN TC 354. On Friday 27th of June, ATVEA was formally granted the “liaison status” with the CEN TC 354. This decision was adopted unanimously by the members of the CEN TC 354.
January 2008 New standardisation initiative and setting up of CEN TC 354 and Working Group II on ATVs In 1995 the Machinery Safety directive entered into force of and from the outset the general understanding was that Utility ATVs were falling within the scope of the directive (CE mark), but that Leisure machines were not. (Transport of persons). In March 2007 in a meeting of the Machinery Directive Working Group it was concluded that also leisure machines fall within the scope of the directive and that it would be useful to establish European standards on safety. That led to the setting up of the CEN TC 354 on non type approved vehicles wich includes also ATVs. The first meeting of CEN TC 354 took place in Paris on Friday the 21st of December. ATVEA was amongst the interested parties involved. The first meeting dealt mainly with establishing the title, the scope and the business plan (in other words the working programme) of the new Technical Committee and it was decided that the remit of the Committee covers all the machines that are not intended for use on public road, hence it covers those machines that are not type approved. Moreover, it was decided to initiate work immediately on standardization in the field of "Motorbikes", and mini-motorbikes but a Working Group II on All Terrain Vehicles was set up and the first meeting has been convened for the 12th and 13th of February in Paris. WG II will work along the lines WG I, namely dealing with safety requirements and Mr. Van Assche was nominated as chairman. The Committee is expected to start working on a draft standard from the outset.
June 2007 European Parliament's New Climate Change Committee
May 2007
April 2007 Commission Launches Two New Sustainable Transport Projects More information available at: http://transportenv07.jrc.it/
March 2007 Changes to the ATVEA Council and Marketing Committee
February 2007 New Off Road Laws on the Way
November 2006 FEBIAC Petition The Belgian automobile federation, FEBIAC, has released a web petition (www.off-road-enquete.be) to support the motorised leisure industry in Belgium. This initiative has been launched further to a new regional regulation, the circulaire Lutgen (CDH). More information on the campaign can be found at: www.off-road-enquete.be
October 2006 Launch of ATVEA Rider Instruction DVD at Intermot Exhibition Today 10 October, at the Intermot Exhibition ATVEA launched their Rider Instruction DVD. ATVEA President Herry Kleyn van Willigen unveiled the new DVD to press and industry representatives during a breakfast briefing. The 20 minute DVD explains how an ATV should be used by its rider and highlights ATVEA’s commitment to promote the correct and responsible use of ATVs in Europe. The content and script was developed in conjunction with EASI, the European ATV Safety Institute (UK). Copies are available in 23 European languages and can be found from one of the dealers networks from the end of the year.
September 2006 Intermot Exhibition From 11 to 15 October 2006 the Intermot Exhibition was in Koln, Germany. This year will again see the major ATV manufacturers displaying their vehicles and merchandise. We look forward to seeing you there! French Demonstrations Users’ federations of ATVs, motorbikes and 4x4s have joined forces in the discussions on access to terrain in France. A series of demonstrations in 20 French cities will be organised for Saturdays in October. The action comes in response to the demonstrations held in April of this year by an alliance of green NGOs called CODEVER (Collectif de Défense des Loisirs Verts).
July 2006 ATVEA Meeting with European Commission In June 2006, an ATVEA delegation met with representatives from the automotive unit of the European Commission’s DG Enterprise. The meeting was a follow-up to the Motor Cycle Working Group Meeting which took place mid 2005. Different options to adapt the quadricycle category under the Directive 2002/24 were debated. Next step will be for ATVEA to prepare a more formal proposal due to be debated in early 2007.
June 2006 French Plans for ATV Sector May discussions in the French Assemblée Nationale have highlighted government plans to deal with the strong growth in the ATV market and the resulting need for a proper framework and safety measures. The plans include: the training of users in the proper use of ATVs; the creation of a reference user organisation for ATV riders; and the identification of private event organisers. In addition the French Motorcycle Federation is also considering setting-up a professional qualification certificate to regulate and frame the practice of ATV riding in France.
April 2006 Meeting with European Commission At the end of March 2006, ATVEA met with DG Enterprise of the European Commission, along with AFQUAD (Association Européenne des Fabricants et Importateurs de Quadricycles) and ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles). The meeting was convened in order to present the Commission with ATVEA and AFQUAD’s initial work on vehicle differentiation. The proposals were positively welcomed by the Commission.
February 2006 FEBIAC ATV Leaflet The Belgian automobile federation, FEBIAC, has released an information leaflet on ATVs. The leaflet which is in both French and Dutch provides useful information on ATVs, including tips for riders. CobraManagedFiles/0dkbvviybb4v74k9.pdf |
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Site powered by Cobra-cms |