Traffic legislation and safety in Europe concerning the moped - Swov

5.3. Registration plates and documents
5.3.1. Result of the questionnaires
Based on these research results SWOV has advised that the speed of
mopeds should be the same as the speed of fast traffic. This means that on
30 km/h roads within the built-up-area both the mopeds and vehicles keep to
the 30 km/h speed limit, and on 50 km/h roads they both keep to the limit of
50 km/h. In the exceptional situation where mopeds have to use the bicycle
path within the built-up-area, the speed limit of 30 km/h must be observed.
Based on the information from the questionnaires, we saw that in 6 of the 15
countries investigated, mopeds must be provided with formal registration
plates and documents (see Section 2.1 and Table 2.1).
Particularly for making the distinction between light and normal mopeds, we
can imagine that in countries with both types of moped, the introduction of
registration plates is the most popular possibilty. But according to the
questionnaire information this is not always the case.
After many years, the Dutch government has decided on the implementation
of registration plates from 1 September 2005. In Section 5.3.2 the issue is
discussed in detail. Recently (April 2003), the implementation of registration
plates from 1 January 2004 was decided on in France; their motivation is
given in Section 5.3.4.
5.3.2. Problems with the identification of light and normal mopeds (the Netherlands)
In the Netherlands, all mopeds presently have to carry Third Party
insurance. To be able to check this, the mopeds (light and normal) all have a
small insurance plate on the back of the vehicle. The insurance plate does
not, however, indicate whether it is a moped or light-moped.
On the front mudguard, the difference between a light and a normal moped
is indicated: a yellow plate for mopeds and an orange plate for light-mopeds.
This is meant to make it possible to determine at a distance which traffic
rules apply; each type has different ones. However, since the popularity of
the scooter-shaped moped and light-moped, these plates sometimes are
removed by the owners, or the yellow plates are replaced by orange ones.
This is because no helmet is required on a light-moped. The police find it
difficult to establish whether a vehicle is a moped or a light-moped; this is
only possible by means of a type approval number which has been stamped
'somewhere' in the frame.
The introduction of registration plates and certificate can solve these
identification problems. It also makes enforcement easier and police efforts
can be more efficient.
To determine whether or not a (light-)moped has been tuned up, the police
are allowed to confiscate the registration certificate. The owner is then given
time to put everything right, after which the registration certificate will be
returned. In case of repeated offences, the (light-)moped itself will be
confiscated.
36 SWOV publication R-2004-10