New rules to improve the safety and environmental performance of two-wheelers approved on 5 December the Environment Committee of the European Parliament in a difficult vote, with more than 300 amendments.
After the vote, the rapporteur of the EP, Dutch MEP of the European People's Party, Wim Van de Kamp, answered relevant questions.
ABS will finally become mandatory for motorcycles as well;
The proposal of the European Commission is to make it mandatory for every two-wheeler over 125 cubic, but we insisted that the limit drop to 50 cubic. In practice there will be three categories: the very light two-wheelers, under them 50 cubic, in which it will not be mandatory, and two categories in which they will be, an intermediate of 50-125 and the normal one, above the 125 cubic centimeters. Alongside, we rejected the Commission's proposal to allow the use of combined braking (CBS) instead of ABS.
Another proposal of the European Commission was to equip all two-wheelers with an electronic diagnosis system (OBD) which warns the driver of a problem with his engine. It's something you supported;
We need to separate the first generation diagnostic systems (OBD 1) which is simple, easy to fit on the motorcycle and will be mandatory, from the second generation systems (OBD 2) which clearly require more sophisticated technology. The introduction of the second generation systems is still under consideration and a European Commission study is expected. The manufacturers themselves react strongly, because their installation requires many and expensive technical modifications. We must move carefully and their introduction is not foreseen before 2020.
Measures against the "teasing" of two-wheelers are also foreseen;
Not exactly. In most cases the modifications are done on machines over 125 κ.εκ. and no substantial change is foreseen to the current ones. However, we are talking about legal modifications, not per se "experimentation" of the motorcycle. The control will be the responsibility of the local authorities.
Motorcycles also need to become greener… What is foreseen and when will it apply;
Cat’ first we had to decide on the so-called Euro3 emission level for mopeds and other small two-wheeled vehicles which are the ones that pollute the most. From January 1st 2016 they must follow the Euro3 norm, as already applies to motorcycles over 125 Mr. from. which will gradually move to the stricter Euro4 2016 to reach Euro7 2020.
Then i’ follow negotiations with the governments in the European Council.
Wait n’ face problems;
In general I don't think there will be any problems, with the exception perhaps of the introduction of ABS into the category of 50-125 κ.εκ. However, I hope that there will be no impasse.
Source : energypress.gr