Petition to stop the proposed Speed Capping

News article from Reuters:

LONDON (Reuters) - Powerful motorcycles could have their top speed capped to try to cut the number of riders killed in accidents, an influential group of MPs said on Thursday.

Electronic speed limiters, already fitted on some scooters and high-performance bikes, could be required by law if the government adopts the committee's ideas.

"Motorcycle accident rates are far too high. They have been for 10 years," the House of Commons' Transport Committee said in a report. "It is time to consider radical action to tackle this problem."

Many "superbikes" with large engines have devices that restrict top speeds to 186 mph (300 kph). The committee did not suggest a top speed limit.
A total of 569 motorcyclists were killed and nearly 6,000 seriously injured in accidents in 2005, according to Department for Transport figures.
Giving evidence to the committee, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said it saw no need for motorbikes that can comfortably exceed the 70 mph limit twice over.

The charity suggested that engine size be limited to 125cc

"A case was made to the committee for limiting the speed of the more powerful motorcycles, though some technical issues still need to be resolved," the committee said.

The government should commission research on speed limiters to "stimulate a sensible debate" on the issue.

The committee said it appeared to be government policy to encourage greater use of motorcycles, despite concerns over safety and the environmental damage.

"This may be another argument in favour of reducing the maximum power and speed that is available on these vehicles," the committee reported.
The Motor Cycle Industry Association says road safety can be improved by better training, changing attitudes and improving roads rather than just focussing on speed.

Technology that interferes with a rider's control could be dangerous, it says.
The Department for Transport had no immediate comment

So, who wants to sign a petition? Might not do much, but doing a little bit is better than nothing!

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/OutlawEVSC/

OK signed

although with that many petition we sign lately I am losing faith in what the results can be

but one can only try

ive seen this in the times, and listened to several radio bits about it, i dont remember seeing any thing about restricting bikes to 125cc, at the moment they are looking into the possibility of how to maek bikes safer, ehatever that means, althoughhtey just cant stop meddling can they,
this wasnt picked upin the MCN by any chance was it?

I haven't read MCN this week, I only tend to get it occasionally. I do know that other bike forums are organising a protest rally and I think MCN are doing something similar.

You want us to sign up to try and limit engine size to 125cc?!?

Dan

"Giving evidence to the committee, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said it saw no need for motorbikes that can comfortably exceed the 70 mph limit twice over."
Why then, is the favoured bike of the ROSPA motorcycling groups, the Honda Pan European, which can do 140mph+?

"The charity suggested that engine size be limited to 125cc"

Scary stuff, but the 125cc thing is completely laughable. A classic example of some ****-wit who knows nothing of the subject making suggestions.

It wouldn't be so bad, if they could explain how a 125cc is safer on the motorway than a 500cc bike, or for that matter, a litre bike? Because they are not safer, end of.

I was at a (car) IAM meeting a while back and the subject of powerful bikes was brought up. There was only me and an ex-police head of traffic (who didn't actually ride) who knew anything at all about bikes. The general consensus was that "186mph bikes can only ever be used properly illegally". I pointed out that there wasn't a car in the car park that couldn't reach 100 and a fair number that would reach 140+, yet how many of them would welcome limiters in their cars? I also explained about people going abroad to places where speed limits are more relaxed (or non-existant) and also track days to use them to their full power. They genuinely seemed not to of considered these possibilities. I imagine the people proposing this are of a similar mindset.

Anyway sod 'em, if bikes are made illegal, I'd just be an illegal biker and as such, wouldn't have anything to loose, so would ride considerably faster/more illegally on the road. :P

Originally Posted by Sudoxe

You want us to sign up to try and limit engine size to 125cc?!?

Dan

erm, no, the petition is to stop it?

Mind you I can see it now....all of us on highly tuned 125's that weigh nothing and can do well over a hundred....

but we all know that speeds of 140mph + are the sole cause of motorbike accidents! maybe they have a point....

some people really do have too much time

How can RoSPA say that about bikes when they say themselves that the Gold Award improves your skills no end and often encourages you to ride faster?

they looked at limiting bikes to mph at one point,

id be interested to see how many motorcylce accidents were a result of speeds in excess of 100mph, i reckon it would be a pretty small number , i bet the majority are somewhere between 40-70mph, and that covers more or less every geared bike on the roads, milkfloats can nearly do that, theyll be looking into the safety of milkmen next