Repsol YPF
Ruta
The DGT may delay the higher minimum age for moped riders
After the public pleas made by the main motorbike associations from around Spain, the manufacturing sector and even some parliamentary groups, the DGT - Dirección General de Tráfico Traffic department - has chosen to rethink the raising of the minimum age for moped riders – from 14 to 15. The DGT now reckons, after all the controversy, that what is really needed is a delay.
The pressure from the main motorbike associations, the manufacturing sector and even from some political parties, such as Ezquerra Republicana and Convergencia i Unió, has managed to sow doubts about the road safety benefits that will be experienced with the change in the law - higher minimum age for moped riders. And so now the DGT is seriously thinking of backing down and delaying the introduction.
The measure that was approved by the DGT gave more importance to the road safety of minors, a lower accident rate, and so the minimum age to ride a moped was going to be raised to fifteen, compared to the 14 in force at the moment. The General Director of the DGT, Pere Navarro, has insisted over the last few days and made it more than clear that the idea of revoking the possibility of car drivers automatically being able to ride a motorbike – maximum 125cc and with a minimum of three years experience – was never on the agenda.
The 125cc modification was introduced so that the traffic in the cities could be improved, the idea being that car drivers would give up their four-wheels and change over to two-wheeled vehicles. The evaluation of this law is that it has been a good one, after having been in force for a couple of years. For the time being the DGT seems to be thinking about a delay before introducing the latest restriction on minors and their mopeds. The law has been approved by the government and should come into force on 1st September.
7/3/2008
Latest news
> Yamaha Vity 125: 100 per cent urban
> Step forward in safety for European riders
