Does This Even Make Sense?
The debate about mandatory motorcycle inspections has resurfaced, even though the reasoning behind it is highly questionable. Finland has previously managed to block such requirements, but now, pressure from the EU threatens to make it a reality. The real question is: does this actually improve road safety, or is it just another way to extract money from motorcyclists?
Motorcyclists are known for taking great care of their bikes. A motorcycle is not just a means of transportation; it’s a way of life. So why are we being targeted again?
The EU and Inspections: Who Is Behind This?
The EU’s inspection directive allows member states to exempt motorcycles from mandatory inspections, provided they implement alternative road safety measures. So far, Finland has relied on this exemption, but now the EU Commission questions whether it’s sufficient. At the same time, the European Parliament is pushing to extend inspection requirements to motorcycles—without anyone stopping to ask if it actually makes sense.
Right now, we are waiting for a decision from the Commission, which may be based on a report by consultancy firm Ricardo Plc. But how many of the people making this decision have ever ridden a motorcycle? How many of them even understand what motorcycling really is?
Mechanical Failures Don’t Kill – But Bureaucracy Might Suffocate Us
One of the main arguments in favor of motorcycle inspections is road safety. But let’s look at the facts:
- Mechanical failures are almost never the cause of motorcycle accidents. According to a SMOTO study, fatal motorcycle accidents in Finland have rarely been caused by technical issues.
- Inspections have not reduced accidents in other countries. In France, where motorcycle inspections have been implemented, statistics do not support the idea that they have improved road safety.
- Who would even perform motorcycle inspections? Proper inspection facilities require specialized testing equipment, such as brake dynamometers and other tools. These do not currently exist for motorcycles, and there is no clear plan on how they would be introduced.
So what would this be based on? Visual inspection? A gut feeling from an inspector? Or would motorcycles somehow have to be “ridden on a dyno” to test the brakes without simulating real riding conditions?
Who Will Touch My Bike?
Motorcyclists know that their bike is a personal matter. Many of us don’t even lend our bike to a close friend, let alone to an inspection engineer who may have no idea what they are doing.
And here’s the big question: How many inspection engineers actually ride motorcycles? Personally, I wouldn’t let anyone touch my bike if they don’t understand motorcycling at its core.
Inspections would require a riding test and a brake test—but who would conduct it, and how? No motorcyclist will let just anyone hop on their bike, so how is this even supposed to work?
The Cost: Who Pays the Bill?
Mandatory inspections are not free. Introducing a motorcycle inspection system in Finland would cost millions of euros, with no proven benefit.
Also, motorcycles make up only a fraction of the total number of vehicles compared to cars. For inspection companies, motorcycle inspections would not be a gold mine, which means the costs would be passed directly onto motorcyclists.
So is this really about safety—or is it just a business opportunity for inspection companies?
Alternative Solutions Exist
If the goal is genuinely to improve road safety, mandatory motorcycle inspections are not the answer. There are other, more reasonable approaches:
- Roadside inspections. Police and traffic authorities could conduct random safety checks to identify clear safety risks without unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Maintenance-based inspections. Motorcycle service shops could offer voluntary condition checks during regular maintenance, increasing safety without a mandatory inspection system.
- Voluntary inspections. If someone really wants an official stamp proving their bike is in good condition, let it be optional.
Motorcycling is a lifestyle, not a problem that needs excessive regulation.
The Bottom Line: Bureaucracy Without Justification?
After considering all this, the question remains: Why is this even being pushed forward?
- Road safety will not improve.
- Motorcyclists will bear the financial burden.
- The system is full of practical issues.
We, the people who actually ride motorcycles, already take care of our bikes without being forced to. Not because some EU bureaucrat tells us to, but because a poorly maintained motorcycle can cost us our lives.
A mandatory inspection system solves nothing. It only adds more bureaucracy and costs for motorcyclists, who already maintain their bikes better than many car owners do.
If this plan goes forward, we must ensure that the system is as light and cost-effective as possible—but ideally, this completely unnecessary proposal should be scrapped entirely.
Leave a Reply