Text tabled : A7-0445/2011

  Françoise Grossetête (PPE), in writing. – (FR) I voted in favour of this report, because I believe it is important to have safer and more environmentally friendly motorcycles. There are 30 million mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, off-road vehicles and quads. Their riders represent around 16 % of the total number of road deaths in the EU but account for only 2 % of the total kilometres driven. We cannot allow the users of these vehicles to remain in such a dangerous situation. Therefore, we need these vehicles to comply with very rigorous functional safety requirements and emissions standards. The aim is to make motorcycles and similar vehicles safer – with, for example, greater application of assisted braking (anti-lock or combined braking system) – and more environmentally friendly (harmonisation with European standards). Automatic headlight activation will also be promoted, although left to Member States’ discretion. This report will also benefit manufacturers, since they will benefit from a new regulation replacing the existing 15 directives, which ought to simplify their market and enhance their visibility and prospects.