Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on new EU regulations being proposed in relation to the use of motorbikes. [26574/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Proposed new Regulations regarding motorcycle standards are under discussion in the EU at present. I am informed that the proposed Regulations relate only to vehicle standards, not to the vehicle's use or the driver,and specify the standards to be applied to new motorcycles. It presents a legal framework for the type approval and market surveillance of mopeds, motorcycles and quads, which will replace the existing Framework Directive 2002/24/EC.

Contrary to suggestions that have been made, the proposed Regulations do not in fact include provisions for mandatory wearing of high visibility clothing by motor cyclists, banning older motorcycles from urban areas or changes to driver licensing. The proposed Regulations are designed to improve the safety of those riders who belong to a vulnerable road user group and who account for the highest fatality and injury rates among all road users. The Regulations also are anticipated to result in reduced vehicle emissions for these types of vehicles, which currently are not reducing in line with other road vehicles such as cars, buses and goods vehicles.

The Road Safety Authority has recently published information on the proposals on their website and is inviting feedback before the end of October.