EU Council: ‘No mandatory inspections for motorcycles’

A great victory for European motorcyclists: European transport ministers set the Council’s position on the roadworthiness package, which puts forward an update of EU standards with regards to periodic roadworthiness tests, technical roadside inspections and registration of vehicle data.

Thomas Danielsen, Danish Minister for Transport said: “I am pleased that we have reached a positive outcome and that we now have a general approach on both proposals in the package. With this agreement we are securing a modernisation of the rules for roadside and periodic testing and registration of vehicle data while minimising administrative burden.” Denmark currently holds the EU presidency.

The package consists of two proposals focusing on the update of three directives: one on the periodic roadworthiness testing for motor vehicles, one on roadside inspections of commercial vehicles and one on registration documents for vehicles and one on roadside inspections of commercial vehicles.

The Council’s position on technical inspections: the scope of tests and minimum frequencies are maintained as currently is the case. This means that the proposed switch to annual instead of biannual testing after 10 years is not followed. The current exception to exclude motor bikes from the scope of tests is also maintained.

Following today’s approval of the Council position, the Council can start negotiations with the European Parliament to reach a final agreement, as soon as the latter adopts its final position.

Over the past months, the European riders’ advocacy groups FEMA and FIM have submitted formal position papers and technical briefs to the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Commission. These documents highlight a consistent finding across EU and national studies: technical defects cause only a very small fraction of motorcycle accidents. “Europe’s motorcyclists maintain their bikes because their lives depend on it,” said FEMA’s Wim Taal. “The data show that education, infrastructure, and driver awareness make far greater contributions to safety than blanket inspection schemes. A large part of our efforts is to highlight more effective safety measures, including better rider training, road maintenance, and technology adaptation.”

In the past weeks, European riders’ representatives were in Brussels regularly, speaking to several Members of the European Parliament and to Permanent Representations of a number of Member States.

Rather than oppose safety efforts outright, both organisations continue to promote targeted, evidence-based measures that actually save lives, such as focused inspections only where national data show a risk, improved training and awareness for all road users, and infrastructure design and maintenance that consider motorcyclists’ needs. European motorcyclists stress that they remain committed to constructive dialogue with EU institutions. “We support effective road safety policies,” FEMA’s Wim Taal said, “but Europe must avoid symbolic measures that burden riders without improving safety outcomes.” The two organisations will continue to coordinate their efforts in Brussels and across Europe as the Roadworthiness Package moves through the European legislative process.

Chris Hodder, FIM’s Public Affairs Manager, and Wim Taal, FEMA’s General Secretary, working in Brussels. Both organisations continue to promote targeted, evidence-based measures that actually save lives.

Source: EU Council

Top photograph courtesy of Indian Motorcycles