Radars – Remy Heitz: “the one who will convince me that speed is a good thing is not born!” –

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Remy Heitz: "the one who will convince me that speed is a good thing is not born!"

Radars - Remy Heitz: & quot; the one who will convince me that speed is a good thing is not born! & Quot; -

After his ride with Moto Journal, the interministerial delegate gives us his first impressions. Conclusion: he is committed to educating motorists and improving infrastructure, but there is still work to be done on speed… Who’s next ?

After his ride with Moto Journal (read), the interministerial delegate gives his impressions to Moto-Net. Result: it is committed to improving infrastructure and raising awareness among motorists through "Biker for a day" operations, but there is still work to be done on speed … Who’s next? ?

So Mr. interministerial delegate, this little motorcycle tour? Communication operation or real concern to better understand ?
Oh, you know, the communication! No, it was a real will to understand and it was not at all conceived as a demagogic operation, it is clear. Me, that enabled me to realize a certain number of things, because I already had an embryo of experience but there we were able to experience in good conditions, by making an itinerary of hundred kilometers on different types of tracks.

What did you learn ?
I found it very interesting, because it allowed me to become aware of what we experience on a motorcycle. The way we are on the road, the way we perceive things that often we do not perceive when we are a motorist or a pedestrian. I am thinking, for example, of the importance of the risks associated with infrastructure, such as a protruding manhole cover or, on the contrary, a little too deep in the road. These are details for a motorist, but not for a motorcyclist.

Do you expect to request additional budgets to improve these infrastructures? ?
Yes, in any case it will allow me to sensitize all those who are responsible for maintenance, operation and works to move them forward.

Were you scared ?
I have to say that due to my very poor experience I really felt like I was exposed and vulnerable, especially when going a bit fast.

A little quick, Mr. Delegate ?
While respecting the limitations of course! Because in the specifications for this experience, I insisted that the limitations be respected !

Not even a small tip at 150 ?
No no no ! 130! At one point, yes, it’s true, I asked him to speed up a bit but we didn’t go up to 150! And speaking of speed, I really realized that bikers are in a very vulnerable situation. Hence the importance of respecting the rules on speed! Really, it seemed very important to me.

Quai du Louvre, did you feel more secure in the bus lanes or on the roadway in the middle of cars? ?
On the subject of bus lanes, there are rules and I think that we must above all respect them. But it’s true that in general, when you’re a biker, you feel more vulnerable than a motorist in a heavy flow of traffic. We must therefore see how, indeed, we can find appropriate solutions. But I do not wish, as it stands, to give a clear position on the bus tracks.

It is however a real question of road safety, at least in the big cities. !
There, we did the experiment on a single trip and not all motorcycles rolled in the bus lanes. I don’t know what it would be like if all motorcycles were allowed to use it! It was experimental, it is not representative of what the continuous flow situation would be with all the bikers on the bus lane…

Do you think you have a different understanding of biker accident studies? ?
What I hope is that the next numbers will show a decrease in the number of bikers killed. This is my first concern. I want to see an equivalent drop in all categories of users, as significant among bikers as among motorists. I would not like the bikers to be lagging behind, that is to say that the drop is less noticeable at home.

But it’s not necessarily the speed that causes accidents !
I do not agree. I am not at all convinced by the arguments about speed and everything I see on a daily basis really tends to show me the opposite. Whoever will convince me that speed can be a good thing was not born! There are several ways not to be in the flow, you can ride a little more slowly, you can ride differently. I believe speed is not the answer to the problem. What is certain is that on the highway, at the maximum authorized speed, I already found that the pace was fast !

But why not introduce a maximum speed for motorcycles different from that of cars, as is already the case for trucks? ?
What you are telling me is that bikers should be allowed to drive a little faster ?

Uh…
Listen, what I noticed while riding a motorcycle is that other bikers ride a lot, a lot faster … The speeding is still very excessive, we see a lot of bikers driving at 160 or 180 km / h … We must already start by getting closer to the rule. It is the most important.

Using the new digital radars ?
You will have to get used to this idea: the radars will be installed, they will work and they will apprehend all categories of users including motorcyclists. And anyway, automated speed cameras won’t take away human checks. There will still be classic checks with interception. So bikers won’t escape the speed rule. What I also observed is that with your colleague, we behaved reasonably on the road and we were therefore respected. There was no hostile behavior from motorists towards us on the entire route and I think it would have been different if we had driven at excessive speed. Because I still see more and more motorists complaining about the behavior of bikers, on the theme "what are you doing towards bikers, we are making efforts but not them". This is something I hear every day so really I think in the interest of the bikers the speed should definitely drop.

But automated speed cameras cannot distinguish the type of vehicle !
It is true that if we set the machine to 130 on the highway, a truck cannot be fined. But there will be specific devices for heavy goods vehicles. For example, trucks limited to 90 can be controlled very well by setting the machine to 90, by not retaining passenger cars. And we can also do classic control vis-à-vis the trucks. Anyway, trucks like bikers will be included in the device !

Will you develop the training of motorists and make them aware of the presence of bikers by their side? ?
Yes, and I can even tell you that we will be developing Biker for a Day operations. I think it’s extremely important for one user to put themselves in another’s shoes. All motorists are also pedestrians and many pedestrians are also motorists, but few are bikers. And really, it’s very important to make others aware of the vulnerability of other users.

Will this experience inspire you to buy a two-wheeler ?
I am very attracted to the scooter for reasons of saving time, but I am not sure yet to take the plunge … Anyway, if I buy one, I will try it first and I will train myself, because I have never driven one and I do not know at all if I will be comfortable on this kind of equipment…

Eric MICHEL

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