Insurers want to generalize the motorcycle airbag

The French Federation of Insurance Companies (FFSA), which brings together 248 insurers, wishes to generalize the wearing of the wireless airbag vest for motorcyclists and moped riders in partnership with Bering and motorcycle schools. Explanations.

As part of its Information Mission relating to the analysis of the causes of traffic accidents and road prevention, the National Assembly interviewed the Deputy Director of the Federation’s property and liability insurance department. French Insurance Company (FFSA), Jean Pechinot, who notably advocated the generalization of the motorcycle airbag vest.

The French Federation of Insurance Companies

Professional union created in 1937, the French Federation of Insurance Companies (FFSA) brings together "248 insurance companies which represent around 90% of the French market and almost all of the sector’s international activity". The FFSA brings together public limited companies and mutual insurance companies. As regards personal automobile risk, the market is divided"on an equal basis between the members of the FFSA and those of the Grouping of mutual insurance companies"(GEMA, which includes in particular the Mutuelle des Motards). The FFSA is notably behind the creation of the Road Safety Association in 1949. In the 1990s, it signed a partnership agreement with the Road Safety and Traffic Directorate (DSCR) obliging insurers to devote 0.5% of civil liability premiums to preventive actions. "The premiums amounting to 6 billion euros, the sum devoted to these actions is of the order of 30 million", calculates Mr. Pechinot.

"The question of motorized two-wheelers is, for us and for the interministerial delegate for road safety, a major subject of concern.", indicates Jean Pechinot, stressing that today it is a risk"uninsurable and therefore, on a technical level, shared with the automobile risk".

"A real driver’s license with points for the 50 cm3"

Two tracks seem to him nevertheless "promising": on the one hand, the reform of the driving license, including insurers"expect a lot", including the creation of a"real driver’s license with points"for the 50 cm3 intended to replace the road safety patent"which has no value for us".

And on the other hand the generalization of the airbag vest with sensors for motorcyclists (read our) which must "make it possible to reduce, if not the frequency, at least the severity of bodily accidents by protecting the most disabling injuries: those of the cervical spine, the spine and the abdomen".

The motorbike auto insurance market in France

"With around 120 insurance companies, the French automobile risk market is arguably the most competitive in Europe.", estimates Jean Pechinot of the FFSA. In 2010, its collection amounted to 18.3 billion euros, the benefits to 15.5 billion and the result to 50 million, while the losses had been 500 million euros in 2009. Motor insurance compensates around 10 million incidents per year in France, including 270,000 bodily accidents involving a total of 300,000 victims, the ratio being 1.2 victims per accident.

"Most of our members have already undertaken to cover the replacement or repair of this equipment in the event of an accident alone.", recalls Jean Pechinot (read in particular) who nevertheless"need a lever to launch this system".

Bering and motorcycle schools

The FFSA is therefore in the process of "build a partnership"with Bering (read in particular and) and two unions of motorcycle school instructors, considering that"if the candidate is encouraged from his training to wear a full face helmet and an airbag vest, there is every reason to think that he will obtain this equipment when purchasing his vehicle".

More surprisingly, Mr. Pechinot also assures that for motorcycle manufacturers, "the idea that we can deliver the motorcycle with these vests is not unthinkable"… To be continued on Site: stay connected !

Eric MICHEL

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