Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001560/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE)
The many EU citizens who use mopeds and motorcycles for the purposes of mobility and recreation are particularly vulnerable because of the inherent risks of using these powered two-wheeled motor vehicles (PTWs).
The share of PTW rider fatalities keeps increasing, the 3 361 motorcyclists and 539 moped users who died on EU roads in 2023 accounting for 19 % of all EU road traffic deaths that year[1].
Given that:
Inflatable airbags could, according to recent studies, improve motorcyclist safety by reducing serious spinal injuries by 60 %[2] and affording better lower-body protection[3].
The Commission was stressing the need for specific airbag rules to address safety issues for motorcyclists as far back as 2010[4].
Parliament highlighted the urgency of further safety measures for PTWs in its resolution of 6 October 2021[5].
We therefore ask the Commission:
What is it doing to improve road safety for motorcyclists? Is it considering making airbags compulsory for PTWs?
Submitted: 16.4.2025
- [1] https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/2023-figures-show-stalling-progress-reducing-road-fatalities-too-many-countries-2024-03-08_en?prefLang=it.
- [2] Giustini, M., Cedri,S., Tallon, M., Roazzi, P., Formisano, R., Pitidis, A., ‘Use of back protector device on motorcycles and mopeds in Italy’, International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 43, Issue 6, December 2014, pp. 1921–1928, https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyu209.
- [3] Pallacci, T., Baldanzini, N., Barbani, D., Pierini, M., ‘Preliminary effectiveness assessment of an airbag-based device for riders’ leg protection in side impacts’, Procedia Structural Integrity, Vol. 24, 2019, pp. 240–250, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2020.02.021.
- [4] European Commission, ‘Towards a European road safety area 2011-2020’, COM(2010) 389 final.
- [5] European Parliament resolution of 6 October 2021 on the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards ‘Vision Zero’ (2021/2014(INI))