FIM, FIVA, and FEMA reaffirm their support for improving road safety in Europe but urge the European Parliament to reject mandatory EU‑wide Periodic Technical Inspections (PTIs) for motorcycles, including the proposed extension of the scope to bikes above 50cc.

In a joint statement the three argue that the current Roadworthiness Directive already provides an effective framework, that Member States are best placed to tailor motorcycle inspections to local conditions, and that mandatory PTIs would impose high costs without meaningful safety gains, given that mechanical defects cause only a tiny fraction of crashes.

The organisations emphasise that riders already perform routine self‑checks and many motorcycles receive regular professional servicing, making additional inspections redundant. They call for evidence‑based measures, such as better training, infrastructure, and targeted enforcement, to address the real causes of motorcycle accidents while avoiding disproportionate burdens on riders, especially in rural or remote areas.

Mandatory EU-wide Periodic Technical Inspections for motorcycles will impose high costs on riders while delivering minimal safety benefits.

Europe’s motorcycling community remains committed to constructive engagement with EU institutions to deliver meaningful, evidence-based road safety improvements. We stand ready to contribute to solutions that address the real causes of motorcycle accidents while ensuring proportionate, practical regulation.

FEMA’s General Secretary, Wim Taal: “Mandatory Periodic Technical Inspections for motorcycles in the EU should be rejected because evidence shows it does not improve safety: technical defects cause only a tiny fraction of motorcycle accidents, so mandatory testing would add bureaucracy and cost without measurable benefit. Calls for mandatory PTI are based on assumptions about safety improvements rather than demonstrated causes of accidents. FEMA is not against PTI, but it should remain possible for member States to exempt motorcycles from compulsory periodic inspections, as long as they demonstrate that effective alternative measures tailored to their countries’ specific characteristics are in place. Training, road quality, and awareness save more lives than blanket technical inspections.”

FIM – Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
FIVA – Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens
FEMA – Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations

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