Road safety – Motorcycle and scooter equipment: insurers are investigating –

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Motorcycle and scooter equipment: insurers are investigating

Road safety - Motorcycle and scooter equipment: insurers are investigating -

The Assureurs Prevention association and the GEMA Prevention group conducted a survey among users of motorized two and three-wheelers in France about their equipment. Conclusion: there is still a long way to go…

In the wonderful world of two – and three! – motorized wheels, manufacturers build, drivers drive, equipment manufacturers equip, public authorities legislate, insurers provide insurance … And everyone must work so that the use of a motorcycle or a scooter is no longer considered as dangerous !

Insurers who are investigating

This study was commissioned by two entities:

  • Assureurs Prevention is an association (law 1901 type) which aims to carry out the second mission of insurance: prevention. Its members are the FFSA (French Federation of Insurance Companies) and its member companies, businesses or organizations.

  • GEMA Prevention is the Group of Mutual Insurance Companies, whose 45 members employ 37,000 people and insure 26 million people: one car and one motorized two-wheeler in two, two homes out of three.

By inviting the press to their conference this morning, insurers (see the box opposite) wanted to prove that they were fulfilling the second part of their "contract": prevention, "which is our second job", insists Patrick Jacquot, president of GEMA Prevention.

According to him, "insurers are not there only to repair". Indeed, they have a breathtaking view of the loss experience of two and three-wheel motor in France. They can – must – therefore establish" observations "on the mores of French bikers and scooter riders, issue opinions and advice, take action…

"However, only a fair study makes it possible to initiate relevant actions", rightly believes Bernard Spitz (president of Assureurs Prevention). The exclusive survey by Assureurs Prevention and GEMA Prevention aims precisely to report on the habits of motorcycle and / or scooter users.

The topic of the day is equipment, for a simple reason: "it may seem trivial", assumes Patrick Jacquot,"but it is always worth remembering: the bodywork of the driver of two or three motorized wheels is his equipment".

"While the "bodily" occurs in one in ten car accidents, it is present in half of the cases in 2-3-RM", specifies the president of GEMA Prevention. The seriousness of the damage is directly linked to the level of equipment..

First surprising observation: 11% of the users questioned declare that they do not always wear a helmet, although this element is – the only one! – mandatory. "These are mainly seniors who use a cyclo in the countryside, who sometimes go for a race without a helmet."Says Bruno Jeanbart, Deputy CEO of Opinionway, to Site..

"Among other categories of users, especially young people, the battle to wear a helmet has been won", we (r) assure the person in charge of the study. Nevertheless, efforts still have to be made vis-à-vis the protection of the noggin…

Study methodology

This survey was conducted between June 11 and 19 by the company Opinionway with a representative sample of 881 drivers of two and three-wheeled motor vehicles. This sample is taken from a sample of 7,957 individuals, representative of the French population aged 15 and over. The sample was drawn up according to the quota method, with regard to criteria of sex, age, socio-professional category after stratification by region and category of agglomeration. For this sample size, the margin of uncertainty is 1 to 3 points

Currently, 19% of bikers and scooter riders (within 3%, read the box on the methodology) still wear a full face helmet. Still according to the study, "this rate would rise to 52% if the regulations made it compulsory to wear the full". but among the remaining 48%, how many would defy the law and how many would simply stop motorized two-wheelers ?

Regarding the jacket this time, the insurers observe on the one hand that 46% of 2-3-RM users do not always wear it, and on the other hand that 51% of users do not use a jacket. specifically designed for driving their machine.

We also note that among the "PPE" (Personal Protective Equipment, read our), pants are the least considered "motorcycle" accessory: 75% of motorcyclists and scooter riders do not wear them, against 50% for shoes. (reinforced and rising) and 30% for the gloves.

On the subject, always, of equipment reinforced – by hulls, Kevlar or other -, the study points the finger at the scooter riders, but also and especially two categories "traditionally cautious": women and" over 60s "…

According to the study, 79% of "girls" and "seniors" circulate without specific two-wheeled pants, ie 4% more than all users. Similarly, 59% of "over 60s" and 56% of women do without a "real" jacket (against 51% for all 2-3-RM drivers).

Regulation is not everything

"Regulations alone cannot solve the problem of under-equipment", underline the assurances. Just as the speed limits do not prevent the excesses, a regulation on the pants – not reinforced – would encourage" only "75% of the users of 2-3-RM to wear them, against 68% currently.

Legislating on the jacket would make wearing it from 53% nowadays to a hypothetical 77%. The proportion would also reach 77% for gloves (+ 19%), 52% for full (+ 33%), 63% for shoes (+ 33%), 54% for fluorescent vests (+ 42%) and 53% on airbags (+ 48%). We would be far from 100% !

"Certainly, but what chick just bought a 50 cc will dare to enter a Dafy (for example, NDLR) ?", reacts immediately Isabelle Lebret, active member of the association" Tous en moto "…"She buys a helmet at the same time as her scooter, but is not always encouraged to better equip herself".

"Even when the Mutual (an example here too, Editor’s note!) attached to the first insurance certificate a book of discount vouchers, these are very biker oriented", remarks Isabelle Lebret. Now this relevant remark can be extended to other categories of users.

"It is a problem of culture and training", summarizes Patrick Jacquot."This is why we, the insurers, must communicate more, and our speech must be relayed by the mainstream media.", the only means of reaching non-passionate users – it is a right – and not very aware – it is a fact !

Scooters and young people would be the main targets of these prevention messages because they inflate certain statistics too much, especially in summer: in all, 57% of users of 2-3-RM sometimes only wear a simple tee- shirt for driving, 47% shorts – or a skirt! – and 31% of open shoes.

"Unfortunately, not all "equipment" is neglected !", remarks Insurers Prevention and GEMA Prevention. Indeed, 30% of users wear audio" headsets "when riding their two-wheelers. They are even 51% among those under 25 (!) and 38% among Ile-de-France residents.

Likewise, 15% of motorcyclists and scooter riders call or consult their phone while driving. However, this proportion climbs to 23% among "under 25" and Ile-de-France residents. Should we remember that the telephone is prohibited at the wheel as well as on the handlebars? ?!

Besides the summer period, another "circumstance" accentuates the risk-taking: the length of the journey. So, "58% of French bikers and scooter riders do not equip themselves in the same way for short trips and long trips", note the insurers (who do not specify the distances in km).

However, asphalt is just as abrasive in front of your house as it is 200 km away! "People too quickly forget their experiences as children on the bike", regrets Patrick Jacquot. Some bikers and scooter riders have not remembered that in the event of a fall their hands are automatically exposed and that their knees, hips and ankles can be badly banged up, without going particularly fast (and you when you had five years, how fast were you on your bike?).

Behind their drivers, passengers seem to be even less aware of the danger: 64% of them do not always wear gloves, 56% do not always wear a jacket and 53% do not always wear pants. However, these statistics refer to "street clothes" and not "motorcycle equipment" !

Even more worrying, passengers are twice as likely as drivers not to always wear helmets (22%). And this time it’s not just about our venerable old fellows lost in the middle of the bush !

However, the behavior of the gugusses sitting just in front of them does not inspire confidence: 66% admit to exceeding the speed limits, 53% climb on the sidewalks (but do not necessarily drive on them to go up a street … although), 24% do not respect the rules of priority, 20% take the wrong way (here we are!) and 20% also take the handlebars having "a little drunk".

The study also confirms that the drivers for whom these practices are most widespread live in Ile-de-France, have already had an accident and / or have less than a year of driving. Passenger friends, you have been warned !

In conclusion, the study lists three "current obstacles to more secure practices". The lack of comfort first of all, is mentioned by bikers and scooter riders who do not wear suitable shoes, gloves, jacket, pants or full face helmet..

The cost is another factor that must be taken into account in order to encourage users of two-wheelers to equip themselves with real boots, a real jacket, a full-face helmet … and an airbag device ?! "We wish to set up a vast awareness campaign on motorcycle and scooter equipment via the dealers", intervenes Thierry Archambault, deputy president of the International Chamber of the Automobile and Motorcycle Union (CSIAM).

Better still, in collaboration with the equipment manufacturers, the CSIAM is currently working on the creation of "equipment packs" which will encourage 2-3-RM users to no longer be satisfied with a simple jet helmet for riding. These "all-inclusive" offers must naturally be financially attractive.

Finally, the third and last brake cited by insurers is the lack of knowledge – or common sense! – users who do not wear equipment because they consider it unnecessary! "Just compare bitumen to a cheese grater to make you think", observes Patrick Jacquot..

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