From 2016, new EU regulations will apply to new vehicles in the L category. A review of what changes and why.

Flashback: Safer, greener motorcycles

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In 2009, 6,000 motorcyclists died  in accidents on European roads.

whilst for drivers of other vehicles  the number of fatalities is falling.

new European regulations  will apply from 2016

L for Light. It covers a huge range  of two- or three-wheeled vehicles,

like mopeds, motorbikes, and certain light  four-wheeled vehicles like quad bikes.

There are 30 million of them  on EU roads.

For simplicity, we'll look at motorbikes,

but all these other models  are concerned by the new rules.

Drivers of L-category vehicles  represent 2% of traffic,

On 1 October 2010, the European  Commission proposed new regulations

to strengthen safety standards  and to reduce pollution by motorbikes.

The bill imposed some measures  on all new vehicles

even if they already apply  in certain countries.

Firstly, advanced braking systems  should reduce the number of accidents.

ABS, the anti-lock braking system,  allows you to brake much more quickly.

It's a good measure,  says this motorcyclist MEP.

I have had a motorbike with ABS  for nine years.

The system has greatly improved  the safe handling of the bike.

We should go ahead  with making ABS compulsory.

Next, automatic switching-on  of headlights with the engine

should make motorbikes more visible  to other road users.

Lastly, emissions standards will be  stricter concerning pollution.

This last measure has the support  of another motorcyclist MEP

These motorbikes  create too many emissions.

The Parliament is therefore  working on a new regulation

to make them more subject  to the EU norms for cars.

Local pollutants are lagging behind  relative to cars.

As you said, they're seven years behind.

June 2011. The Fédération Internationale  de l'Automobile

proposed bringing forward  application of the rules to 2015,

rather than 2017, as initially proposed.

The lead time wasn't justified on  technical grounds or on grounds of cost.

It's important to bear in mind  the size of the industry.

The motorcycle industry is  100 times smaller than that of cars,

so that's partly why we need more time  to achieve these results.

End of 2011. The MEPs  specialising in the internal market

decided to split the difference.  The new rules will be applied from 2016.

Since the motorbike sector  is lagging behind,

the new measures will have to be  implemented fairly quickly.

But will ABS be compulsory on  all these vehicles everywhere in Europe?

I think smaller bikes up to 50cc  should be exempt from this requirement,

but for all other bikes  ABS should be mandatory.

Motorcyclists are proposing a cheaper  alternative for the lightest motorbikes.

we think that the combined  braking system is often forgotten.

It means you can operate  both brakes with one control,

and we think that's a plus for beginners.

Finally, on 20 November 2012 the new  regulation was approved in plenary.

Let's recap. MEPs finally dropped ABS  for the lightest vehicles.

It will only be required  on vehicles over 125cc.

the alternative and cheaper  combined braking system is also allowed.

The environmental norms will be stricter  in 2016 and even more so in 2020.

For some countries, the costs of moving  to these new norms are disproportionate.