France: ATGATT Shortly Mandatory? from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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France: ATGATT Shortly Mandatory?

February
2013

  File under France Safety
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

It looks like the debate that is happening in some places in the world about the mandatory use of helmets on motorcycles is so minor compared to the one that France is going to have......

.... helmets are mandatory, as is the case in all other European countries, but the French want to go for the next step. Currently the next step is making it mandatory to wear gloves when riding your motorcycle. According to French and international research, gloves can reduce severe corporal accidents, and in a medical system that is in a huge deficit, any penny that can be saved is a penny that can be spent on the politician's campaigns. According to a recent study, it costs the French state €1.1 BILLION for non-lethal motorcycle (over 50cc) accidents per year. As a sidenote, the usage of gloves and other gear (link

) is already mandatory in Belgium.

Studies have also shown that motorcycle riders are better off then scooter riders, since motorcycle riders tend to wear gloves while scooterists don't.

So far there has been almost no reaction from the motorcycle community in France, since most members wear gloves anyway. But the next steps might solicit more emotions. The government is looking at introducing bit-by-bit new legislation regarding a sort of ATGATT law:

Step 1 - Jackets/Vests for all PTW under 125cc (so essentially mopeds)
Step 2 - Dorsal and Lombard protection for PTW over 50cc (so back-body armor)
Step 3 - Jackets/Vests equipped with airbag for all PTW over 125cc
Step 4 - Boots or semi-boots protecting foot and ankle for all PTW over 125cc

In essence, a nanny-state wants to protect its citizens to the point that they want to make sure that nothing happens to them, and to ensure that this happens, they prefer a biker to be in a real cage than on a motorcycle.

Via: Moto-Net