Traffic legislation and safety in Europe concerning the moped - Swov

problems with tampered mopeds. Most of the countries take police action
against these offences. Other measures are: better European antitampering
regulation; sales prohibition of tuning-components; punishing
dealers who are guilty of tuning up.
− Separation of mopeds from other traffic.
Six of the eleven countries from which questionnaires were received,
have taken measures to separate mopeds from other traffic. In Belgium
and the Netherlands mopeds must use the cycle track if present outside
the built-up area. Separation of mopeds from other traffic inside the builtup
area is effective: in the Netherlands an effect is found of approximately
10 - 25%.
− Registration plates and documents.
In 6 of the 15 investigated countries mopeds must be provided with
formal registration plates and documents. In France the year of
implementation is 2004 and in the Netherlands it will be 2005.
− Practical test for mopedists.
Ten of the 15 countries have a practical test for mopeds; most of the
countries have no practical test for the light-moped. In a Dutch calculation
a casualty reduction of 10% is used for the effect of a practical test. The
assumption is that the barriers for potential mopedists buying a moped,
for an important part contribute to this effect.
− Obligatory helmet use.
Only in the Netherlands there is no compulsory helmet use for the lightmoped
(25 km/h-moped).
− Raising the minimum age for riding a moped.
This is a very effective measure. In the Netherlands, plans for raising the
age from 16 to 17are discussed. This plan of the Ministry of Transport,
called "Plan 17", for example also comprises the addition of a danger
recognition test to the theory examination. In case of the Netherlands it is
assessed that this plan will reduce the number of moped casualties and
casualties among their crash opponents by about 20%.
When Austria, in 1997, lowered the minimum age for riding a moped from
16 to 15 years old, the number of those injured doubled. In Austria there
is a discussion going on about raising the minimum age again from 15 to
the original 16 years.
In France, raising the age from 14 to 16 years is being discussion by
researchers. In a calculation of SWOV, the effect of the raising the age
from 16 to 18 would result in a saving of about 40% of casualties.
Raising of the minimum age for (light-)mopedists is always controversial.
On the one hand, the supporters of this measure look at the road safety
aspects and, on the other hand, the opponents (i.e. the trade and the
tourist organizations) view the loss of the (potential) number of
(light-)mopedists and the reduction in mobility for young mopedists.
A survey carried out in the Netherlands confirmed that it is a sensitive
subject. However, the teenagers (and their parents) are prepared to
weigh the safety aspect heavily and, because of this, are less fiercely
opposed to raising the age. It was to be expected that boys have a
stronger moped yearn than girls, and that they were more opposed to
raising the age.
− Poor conspicuity of mopeds.
− French researchers are making a point of the poor conspicuity of
mopeds. This is an aspect that also applies to motorcycles.
54 SWOV publication R-2004-10