ETSC highlights five critical areas where recent legislative changes or proposals are actively undermining safety:
-
Small electric vehicle safety “freeze” : a promised 10-year halt on new safety requirements for small EV’s, despite 40% of road deaths occurring in the urban environments where these vehicles proliferate.
-
The rise of 60t “megatrucks”: pushing for cross-border movement of massive “gigaliners” that pose extreme risks to infrastructure and vulnerable road users.
-
Standards dilution: the risk of a shift toward mutual recognition of US vehicle standards, threatening to flood EU markets with heavier, less-regulated SUVs and pickups.
-
Younger lorry drivers: revisions to the Driving Licence Directive that lower minimum ages for HGV drivers, despite clear evidence of higher risk profiles for younger operators.
-
Technical inspection gaps: leaving 70% of the motorcycle fleet (mopeds and motorcycles up to 125cc) without mandatory EU-wide annual safety checks.
I wish the EU would ban US cars altogether and prevent big cars from entering cities altogether.
Fuck the US and their shitty influence.
Was interested who is lobbying who in this case: https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/european-transport-safety-council?rid=78891371297-34
Seems like this is mainly the EU lobbying itself 🤦
Make no mistake, these are the indirect result of US bullying via “mutually agreed trade deals”, undermining every single policy the EU has put in place for the benefit of their citizens instead of business entities. The trade deals ARE the lobbying.
The US is in freefall and they’re dragging us down with them. From chat control, to unreasonably huge cars in our roads, combined with lax safety standards.
Why do yall need annual motorcycle inspections??
I guess for the same reason we need annual car inspections.
Probably something along the lines of : people cant be trusted to keep an eye on their vehicle’s condition and we don’t want any more pollution and accidents than there already is.
I think it also helps keep vehicles healthy for longer, even though that effect is negated by the fact that we’re getting pushed to replace perfectly functional cars with electric ones…
Bikes are such simple machines though, theres people who can’t read but can fix a Honda.
Diagnosing a car problem requires specialist knowledge and equipment, excepting BMWs and some other more technical bikes. Is/was people riding unsafe bikes a problem in Europe, or was car policy just copied over to bikes because reasons?
Most narrow-minded response in the thread. Wow.
I see any anti-car groups that oppose motorcycles the same way I see environmental groups that want to close nuclear plants.
Yes ideally they would be unnecessary because we’d have public transit and walkable/bicycle-friendly infrastructure, but for 80% of car users, they can be a drop-in replacement, don’t require any political influence like building infrastructure, and help build opposition to car-centric urban design.
You’re just biased. Motorcycles are just as bad for the environment as cars. Motorcycle accidents also result in death more often. They are often also louder than cars. The only upside they have is that they are easier to park.
To make motorcycles better, you have to go electric, which of course also drastically reduces possible travel distance on a single charge, and also introduces dependencies on electrical systems.
Motorcycles are just as bad for the environment as cars.
Doesn’t seem possible. Maybe you’re biased?
Unwillingness to accept the truth. Look in the mirror.
Motorcycles are just as bad for the environment as cars
Depends on the bike; a 125cc Honda Wave burns 1 gallon of gas per 160 miles, ~60 isn’t uncommon for bigger bikes.
Motorcycle accidents also result in death more often
Yes, 2 wheeled vehicles are less safe than cars. We can make streets safer for everybody by lowering speed limits and reducing car usage.
They are often also louder than cars
That’s not the bike, it’s the muffler.
The only upside they have is that they are easier to park.
They also require a fraction of the right-of-way. This becomes more apparent in places with a smaller portion of cars; 15 feet of road can accommodate 100+ bikes or 2 cars. This is the key benefit; by decreasing the area that needs to be dedicated to car RoW and parking, and the overall speed, you make a place more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly.
To make motorcycles better, you have to go electric
Electric mopeds are extremely common in east asia, minus Japan. For shorter trips, light-weight electric mopeds that can ride on pedestrian paths are very popular and pretty much necessary for delivery drivers in fully pedestrianized areas. The transition/addition of electrics has been very effective in China where it supplements public transit, but less so in Vietnam where people can’t afford electrics, there’s less public transit, and fewer places to safely charge bikes.
Depends on the bike; a 125cc Honda Wave burns 1 gallon of gas per 160 miles, ~60 isn’t uncommon for bigger bikes.
Depends on the car too. Motorcycles are worse for the environment than hybrid cars.
Yes, 2 wheeled vehicles are less safe than cars. We can make streets safer for everybody by lowering speed limits and reducing car usage.
Speed limits exist in Europe. Motorcyclists regularly ignore them.
That’s not the bike, it’s the muffler.
“He hit me!”, “He didn’t hit you, the arm hit you”. A distinction without a difference.
This is the key benefit; by decreasing the area that needs to be dedicated to car RoW and parking, and the overall speed, you make a place more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly.
You can also get rid of all motorbikes and improve public transport. One motorcycle takes up the space of at least 2 bikes. And one bus can transport many more people in the same area than bikes ever could.
pretty much necessary for delivery drivers in fully pedestrianized areas
That’s false. I invite you to visit Denmark (Copenhagen) or the Netherlands. Electrified bikes and cargo bikes can move a lot and can do so safely in areas with bike paths.
We don’t - in Spain there’s an inspection every 2 years, and it’s very basic (like, do the brakes work? Is the engine smoking?)
To fill the pockets of inspection operators that get bribe money for passing inspection on shitty vehicles
I know 3 guys in my area that do this, none of them were fined even once.
I have zero doubt that’s common, but are corrupt bike inspectors an influential political block? The same applies in US states that require emissions testing, minus the bribery.
but are corrupt bike inspectors an influential political block?
I’m not sure I understand
Surely those bike inspectors, while they benefit, aren’t writing bike legislation or telling the guys who do.
Oh… Yea
