With the final approval given by the Council, there will apply new rules for motorcycles and other light vehicles. Among the measures approved there are the fitting of advanced braking systems will now become obligatory for two-wheel motorcycles and automatic "switching-on" of headlamps will be mandatory for all light vehicles.

The European Commission welcomed in a statement the final approval by the EU's Council of Ministers of new rules for motorcycles and other light vehicles. The Regulation sets ambitious emission lowering requirements for these vehicles, and other measures to improve safety. MEPs adopted these rules in the plenary session held in November 2012.

According to the Commission, by introducing enhanced market surveillance requirements, a level playing field will be created for all L-category vehicle manufacturers in a sector where presence of non-compliant products may cause significant safety risks and environmental threats. L-category vehicle is the family name for such light vehicles and they include engine powered bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles with and without a side-car, tricycles, quads and quadri-mobile vehicles.

The Commission also proposes to radically simplify its current set of laws for light vehicles and reduce them from fifteen Directives to five Regulations. The entire package would be applicable as of 1 January 2016, offering sufficient lead-time for the industry to adapt to the new set of rules.