Traffic legislation and safety in Europe concerning the moped - Swov

4. The Minister of Transport has the idea of raising the minimum age for
riding a light-moped or moped from 16 to 18. If this happens, how will you
go to school or work after you are 16?
5. The expectation is that this measure can prevent 1250 severely injured
and 30 killed riders a year. What do you think of this measure of the
Minister?
5.7.2. Results
a. Qualitative study
The necessity of riding a moped
In the panels there were no youths who would really have problems resulting
from raising the age to 18. However, the group of (potential) moped users
sees this as having something taken away from them which they had been
very much looking forward to. In the first instance, they confused this
pleasure (the fun aspect) with the necessity. Those confronted with the idea
of raising the minimum age (riders as well as non-riders) reacted very
emotionally, with a loud 'no', in the first instance. They regarded mopeding at
16 as an acquired right of their age group, whether they want to use it or not.
The new measure gave them the feeling that their (potential) freedom was
being restricted; and this incites resistance.
They all agreed that a moped was only really necessary for a very small
group: those with a certain disability so that they can't ride a bicycle, or the
few young who live so isolated that a bicycle and public transport are no
solution. After repeatedly saying that the measure could save 30 lives and
1250 severely injured a year, most of them could see that raising the age did
have a point. They began to think more differentiated about it.
Alternatives for the measure
All groups were also asked whether they could think of better measures as
an alternative for raising the minimum age. Especially the moped owners
had a number of suggestions. An often-mentioned alternative was the
introduction of practical lessons and a practical driving test for mopedists.
The theory exam was considered very insufficient; the young thought it much
too easy.
Also mentioned were: more control of speeding by mopedists, preventing
tuning up, allowing mopeds to drive as fast as cars, and lowering the
minimum age for light-mopeds to 15 (in order to gain more experience
before riding a moped).
The panel discussions also covered safety matters and safety perception of
mopedists (both users and non-users) and their parents. They were
surprised by the number of offences tolerated by parents and government,
and that there was hardly any action taken. The tuned-up (light-)mopeds are
considered to be an extreme situation, as nearly all types of mopeds can
ride faster than allowed.
Predicted problems concerning the measure
A realistic problem that the young brought up is that of riding illegally. If the
minimum age is raised, the under-18s will still continue to ride. Many
indicated that they themselves will continue to do so if such a measure
indeed comes. Also the fact that a number of panel members had already
started riding a moped long before they were 16 confirmed this opinion. Of
42 SWOV publication R-2004-10