Editorial: Methodology and consortium composition: the main endorsements of PIONEERS
PIONEERS is a H2020 project that has three main objectives: higher understanding of how to prevent injuries to PTW users, better testing methods enabling better performance assessment and better products (on-rider and on-board systems) from European manufacturers, achieving an increased safety level of PTW user safety and improving European competitiveness.
The main results will contribute to reducing PTW fatalities up to 25% in 2025 by defining test methods to develop protective systems and on-board systems to reduce impact severity. All the developments explained before will strengthen European leadership in the PTW industry.
To reach these objectives PIONEERS is based on two endorsements: the methodology and the Consortium composition.
Regarding Methodology, a project fully dedicated to PTW safety needs to tackle the issue putting the user (rider) at the centre. Four main pillars growing up from vulnerability and low use of protective systems are built around the figure of the PTW user with the objective of enhancing the four most critical areas in PTW safety.
The first pillar is to achieve a deep understanding of the injuries sustained by the PTW users in motorcyclist accidents. With this knowledge we can work in the second pillar, which is to increase the performance of safety systems. The third one is to develop better test and assessment methods, since it is necessary to verify that new safety systems really prevent injuries. Finally, the fourth pillar is to increase the awareness and the usage rate of PPEs among motorcyclists.
The PIONEERS project will work on these 4 pillars in the above order to ensure that each pillar is supported on a solid base. With this methodology we have a closed circle that should allow us to achieve higher PTW safety.
The second endorsement of PIONEERS is the Consortium composition, that is laid down by 16 partners that work in different fields: universities, research institutes, PTW manufacturers, PPE’s manufacturers, engineering companies, users’ organizations, etc. Therefore, the Consortium fully covers the entire scope of the Project.
In addition, the consortium is very well positioned and has strong links with the identified stakeholder groups: manufacturers, academia, public authorities, standards development organisations and end users (Riders). In geographical terms, members of PIONEERS are strongly established in the 4 most important markets in Europe: Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
Finally, PIONEERS partners have strong connexions with the most important motorcycle associations: ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles), CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) and with FIM (Fédération Internationale deMotocyclisme).
In summary, PIONEERS project has all the ingredients to achieve the objectives. Therefore: It is time to get to work!
If you need more information, please visit http://www.pioneers-project.eu. |