It is official: as
of 1 January 2013, motorcycle drivers and scooters of over 125 cm3 and motor
tricycles over 20 hp should wear retro reflective equipment, under penalty of
a fixed fine of 68 Euros and a withdrawal of two points!
The Ministry of
Interior has published in the Official Journal Decree No. 2012-3 of 3 January
2012, specified by an order of January 3, 2012, on retro reflective equipment
that will be mandatory from 1 January 2013 for drivers and passengers of a
motorized two-wheelers over 125 cm3 " or L5e category vehicle with a power
greater than 15 kW " (20.4 hp, Ed).
Not mandatory for
cycling and 125
Specifically, if
it is almost expressly MP3 drivers, this obligation does not touch - for now -
the drivers of cyclists and 125 cm3. Which greatly surprising, since due to
their smaller size and less powerful lighting, cyclists and 125 are even less
visible than big cars...?
Reportedly, this
was explained by the fact that these vehicles operate primarily in urban areas,
where fatalities are fewer. On the other hand, users of mopeds and 125 have
already been sufficiently "cooled" by previous decisions of the IRB,
respectively Technical Supervision and training of 7 days...
There is however
likely that this requirement with reflective material will extend in
future to all two and three-wheel regardless of displacement, according to the
same pattern as the helmet (first made compulsory in 1973 for large
displacement out agglomeration, and then gradually extended to all PTWs).
Is my jacket
compliant?
According to the
decree published today in the Official Journal, the equipment can be
retro-reflective "in one or more parts “but must always" be a total
area of at least 150 cm2.” Waiting to see on our roads - with some perverse
forward, let's face it! - the "security forces" out their tape
measure, it is necessary to accurately measure all the reflective portions of
your existing jacket to see if it will pass the 2013 bug ...
If retro reflective
equipment does not comply it will be changing jacket or him "superimpose
by any means" provided that it is “focused on the upper body, except the
helmet, from the waist with the shoulder line, so as to be visible to other
road users.”
Clearly, a Reflective
Armband 30 cm by 5 slipped over the handle will do ... which is
surprisingly not the case that distributed to journalists by the Ministry of
Transport! With 25 cm of 5.8 (or 145 cm2), the official cuff "Road safety
all responsible" (photo above) is simply not consistent...
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