[Street] Motorcycle technical inspection: Europe requests its application in 2022

Until now exempt from technical inspection, motorized two and three-wheelers will soon be placed in the same boat as cars. Indeed, the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee voted for a draft resolution in favor of this measure, which could make technical inspection compulsory in 2022 for these vehicles.

Last year, it seemed inevitable that France was not going to escape compulsory technical inspections for motorcycles and scooters. The aim of this measure is simple: to reduce the number of road accidents. Indeed, according to figures published by the European Commission, around 22.800 people died and some 135.000 were seriously injured on European roads in 2019 (23% less than in 2010).

Despite the drop in fatal accidents, the European Parliament wants to reduce the number of road deaths at all costs. MEPs believe that motorcyclists are vulnerable road users. Thus, the “The number of deaths among them is falling the slowest among all vehicle users in the European Union. » In 2012 and 2017, he had already tried to introduce compulsory technical inspection for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, but without success. This is now done, since the draft resolution was adopted on February 25, with 48 votes in favor and one vote against.

“This harmonization on a European scale will make the road safer,” welcomed the commission's rapporteur Benoit Lutgen.

We will still have to wait a few months before certain technical inspection centers are equipped with the necessary equipment to pass the tests on motorcycles: the entry into force of this reform should not take place before January 1, 2022. Technical inspection will probably need to be carried out every two years, and should also be mandatory when reselling a two-wheeler, three-wheeler or quad.

 

 

Associations such as the FFMC (French Federation of Angry Bikers) are trying as best they can to fight against this compulsory technical inspection, which they consider to be an “additional tax with no benefit for security”. In fact, according to the association, less than 1% of motorcycle accidents are due to technical problems.

The FFMC also highlighted a concern for the profitability of this measure. For them, the investment of technical inspection centers in suitable equipment would not be profitable for a long time, unless they charge a high price for the checks. In addition, some motorcyclists could be forced to travel tens of kilometers to pass these checks if all the centers are not equipped with the appropriate equipment.