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Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM) has joined others in calls for anti-lock brakes systems (ABS) to be fitted as standard on all new large motorcycles by 2015.

Proposals to make ABS systems compulsory on all new motorcycles over 125cc from 2017 have been currently debated in the European Parliament.

But, by bringing forward the deadline two years, IAM and and Fédération internationale de l'automobile (FIA) believe that 3,000 lives could be saved across Europe.

The number, estimated by the IAM, comes from a recent research by the FIA and from experience in Italy, where nearly a quarter of all new large bikes already have ABS.

In 2010, the number of motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents in the UK came to 403 - 21 per cent of all road deaths. A shocking fact if we consider that only four per cent of road users are motorcyclists.

Those statistics means that, over the same distance, the chances of being killed or injured are 50 times greater for motorcyclists than for car drivers. Moreover, three quarters of all bikers killed are riding the biggest bikes.

"ABS is available now on many new bikes and the evidence is clear from across Europe that it is delivering fewer deaths," said Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research for the IAM.

If we look at the IAM's report Licensed to Skill, we see that 'sudden braking' and 'slippery road' are in the top 10 causation factors for motorcycle casualties - situations that ABS is supposed to resolve.

The way an Anti-Lock Braking System works is by incorporating computerised sensors to determine when a wheel is on the verge of locking-up and then giving instant instructions to the brakes to release and re-apply braking pressure - what results is slowing down without skidding.

The process is repeated up to 16 times per second in some systems, while the brakes are steadily engaged by the driver.

That same aggressive braking which initiates the ABS is, however, opposed to the required pumping for traditional braking - the alternated front and rear braking with which many experienced drivers can bring their non-ABS bike to a halt faster than an ABS equipped bike.

Unfortunately, that level of skill is not achievable by all, what still makes ABS a safer bet.

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