The Mobile Menace
 The Motorcycle Action Group, the UK's leading riders rights group, says the mobile phone menace continues to grow at an alarming rate. The Welsh executive has launched a new service to alert drivers in Wales to potential problems on the roads with automatic alerts from Traffic-Wales. Once registered, users will receive automatic notification of accidents, delays and speed restrictions likely to affect their journeys. Welcoming the new service, Sue Essex, Minister for Environment said: 'Users of the M4 in Wales can register for the Assembly's new auto-notification system at www.traffic-wales.com to receive free alerts, by e-mail or by MOBILE PHONE.
The service is designed to advise drivers of problems before they set off on their journeys. Once on the road, electronic road signs will keep drivers informed of any developments'. Although Ms Essex urges motorists to sign up for the new service she reminds drivers that mobile phones should never be used while driving.
This is good advice on not using mobile phones while driving but lets face it, drivers will read text messages on the move, putting motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users at risk.
MAG'S Director Of Public Affairs, Trevor Baird said, "Lets make this clear again, you can't talk on a hand held mobile phone and drive safely, never mind staring at a text message on the move even if using a hands free system. Today's personal example and a daily experience of mobile phone use on the move was in a Tesco's car park when nearly T-boned by a driver chatting away".
For a Regional Assembly to encourage text messaging when the results of the Government's own consultation on banning mobile phone use in vehicles has still to be announced, is downright irresponsible. This adds to the list of providers transmitting or receiving information via mobile phones. Providers so far on the list are: AA, RAC, BBC, Met Office, Road Rave, Text Jam.
MAG are looking for information on other providers, what type of service they offer and their contact details. MAG are also looking for your "daily" experiences of drivers using hand held mobile phones.
You can send your information to "The Mobile Menace" E-mail public-affairs@mag-uk.org Fax: 0870444 8 449, or post information to; MAG UK, PO BOX 750 Rugby, CV21 3ZR

Chancellor Challenged to Encourage Motorcycling

The Motorcycle Action Group has challenged Gordon Brown to increase the non-taxable allowance for riders using powered two wheelers (PTWs) for business use.
MAG has written to Gordon Brown asking for a review of the allowance in his budget in March. The motorcycle and scooter allowance has been fixed at twenty-four pence per mile since the inception of the allowance, with no consideration given to any increase in line with inflation.
The allowance for pedal cycle use is an abnormally high at twenty pence per mile, which means that for very little if any maintenance or running costs, pedal cyclists are being awarded a "pedal hardship" allowance and encouraged by financial incentives to use their bicycles. The Government has repeatedly stated in Transport Plans that they wish to encourage road users out of their cars, which enjoy a higher rate of allowance in proportion to their running costs, and on to other forms of congestion-reducing transport, including motorcycles.
MAG's Chief Executive Henry Marks says, "The current tax allowance does not encourage riders to use their viable and congestion-reducing form of transport, leaving riders financially penalised". MAG considers an increase in the allowance to be an opportunity for the Government to reward riders and businesses financially for being a part of the solution to reduce congestion and to send out the right signals to the 1.4 million people who own two wheeled vehicles.
For further information contact MAG.

The European Union is planning to establish a more efficient single market in the field of Motor Insurance. FEMA welcomes this initiative but is questioning the fairness of the proposed principle that blameless motorists are automatically judged liable in accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
The European Commission (EC) recently published a proposal for a fifth directive on Motor Insurance. Its content is generally to the advantage of the consumer, easing the procedure to contract a temporary vehicle insurance in another EU country, and short term insurance for new or second hand vehicles bought abroad. The proposal also seeks to speed up the procedure for compensation claims from victims of accidents.
FEMA welcomes to a large extent this proposal, which benefits its members as consumers, and seeks to meet today's needs with the growing mobility of persons within the European Union.
However, the European motorcyclists' Federation has serious reservations on the "no fault liability" principle, which has been included in the same proposal, i.e. the fact that the motorist will automatically be financially liable for an accident with a pedestrian or a cyclist.
The media have published worrying news on the possible effect of this measure. Would it result in the possible scenario of an accident between a motorcyclist not at fault and a pedestrian, with the motorcyclist being injured and his or her bike damaged. The pedestrian's physical injuries would be covered by the insurance of the motorcyclist. But who will be financially liable for the physical injuries of the motorcyclist and the damages to the bike?
The Commission justifies the proposed measure by asserting that, while pedestrians and cyclists may be the cause of some accidents, motor vehicles cause most accidents. FEMA is questioning the logic and the fairness of this "no fault liability" principle, let alone the inevitable increase of motorcycle insurance premiums that would result from it.
FEMA is investigating the present national arrangements with regards to this issue throughout Europe, and is currently also in direct contact with the EC Directorate General for Internal Market in order to express the concerns of European motorcyclists and to ask for clarification in the vagueness of the terms and scope of this very controversial measure.

Christina Gesios (FEMA)