Many high schools in Norway organize road safety days and the Norwegian motorcyclists’ association NMCU uses these days to talk to young riders about motorcycles, safety equipment and maintenance.

In Norway, the age limit for riding a 125 cc motorcycle is 16 years. Young riders in the age group of 16-18 years often use their 125 cc bike daily, as it is the main means of transportation they have. They ride to and from school and work, for leisure activities and to meet friends. They also use it for touring. A large proportion rides between 5 and 10,000 km per year and use motorcycles all year round. Many live in such a way that motorcycles are the only means of transportation they have to get around in their ‘local environment’.

Statistics show that the risk of serious accidents is considerably higher for young riders aged 16-18 than for other motorcyclists. In 2024, four young riders under the age of 18 lost their lives in such accidents in addition to those who were seriously injured. This has led, among other things, to the Norwegian authorities considering raising the age limit for A1 from 16 to 18 years.

NMCU (a member of FEMA of course), has been in meetings with the Minister of Transport and the head of the Transport and Communications Committee in the Parliament and talked about the challenges we face. The politicians are quite clear in their speech that it is too risky for young people of this age to drive 125 cc and that it is their responsibility to reduce the accident rate – the Zero vision. NMCU agrees that something must be done, but we want to focus on measures that can reduce the risk so that young drivers can still be mobile on their motorcycles.

Young riders in this age group will have a need for transportation even if the age limit is raised to 18 years. The alternatives will then be ATVs/UTVs, mopeds – often trimmed, or they will continue to drive their 125 cc without a driver’s license. This is especially true in rural areas where distances are large and public transport is almost non-existent. For a 16-year-old, the brain is less developed, so they do not read the traffic situation in the same way as older riders. Therefore, they need more time to learn this and driving lessons cost a lot for young people without a job. So, they must get such knowledge through channels other than driving schools.

Here, NMCU wants to be involved in various initiatives where we can have a dialogue and through this get young riders to think together and increase their understanding for the traffic situation. At the same time, it is necessary to increase the knowledge of the parents, especially attitudes around the use of driving equipment, maintenance and attitudes in traffic. Most people aged 16 – 18 go to school and therefore this is an important arena for meeting this age group.

Through our region’s around Norway, NMCU has direct contact with road authorities and other important players. Both through direct contact with high schools and through MC forums, we work to increase traffic safety. Many high schools organize traffic safety days and NMCU has invited itself to talk to young riders about traffic safety with a focus on motorcycles, safety equipment, etc. NMCU is a natural player in this, working together with the county council, emergency services, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and others. Our most important focus on such a day is to establish good communication, provide information about traffic safety and give young riders a safe setting where they can reflect on their own attitudes about how they should behave in traffic, use of equipment, bicycle maintenance and other things that concern them in relation to everyday motorcycle riding.

The feedback from the events has been overwhelmingly positive. The young riders feel that they were listened to and met in a good way. If we are to achieve positive results, we must give young people the tools to make changes themselves.

As previously mentioned, the parents are an important player in this work. They are the ones responsible for young drivers under the age of 18. They are also responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is in a technically approved condition. But many express that they do not know what is legal and what is not. Therefore, we want parents to receive the same information as young people in their own meetings.

In Norway, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the Police can show up at schools without warning to go over motorcycles parked on the school grounds while the students are in school. When they come out of class, the bike may have been inspected and a ticket issued without them being present. This leads to the young people feeling targeted and that different rules apply to them than to others. NMCU believes that it is a problem that young motorcyclists feel targeted. Therefore, efforts should be made to establish a good dialogue between the police, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the young drivers.

There are of course some vehicles that are dangerous in traffic and that must be banned from driving regardless of where they are inspected. But most defects are not of such nature and here a good conversation about how the errors can be resolved will improve the relationship between inspectors and the young drivers. Places have been established where young drivers can receive training and help to fix their own bikes. NMCU collaborates with other actors to ensure that they receive such an offer in several places in the country.

Written by Olea Anett Kvalsvik, NMCU Chair

Top photograph courtesy of visitnorway.com

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