MEPs adopted in plenary session the new legislation that makes motorbikes safer and greener. This new legislation will apply to all powered two- and three-wheel vehicles, from mopeds to heavy motorcycles, and also quads, as of 2016.

Adopted with 643 votes in favour, 16 against and 18 abstentions, a new legislation to make motorbikes safer and greener was adopted by the European Parliament. The new rule follows an agreement reached in September 2012 with the Council and still has to be formally approved by EU member states. It will apply only to new two- or three-wheel vehicles and quads sold from 2016.

MEPs voted to extend Euro 4 emissions standards to motorbikes from 2016, mopeds from 2017 and Euro 5 standards to all two- or three-wheel vehicles from 2020. They also backed the gradual introduction of increasingly advanced On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) systems, to monitor malfunctions and hence make information on emissions easily available so that the bike can be repaired promptly.

The European Parliament also approved the introduction of anti-lock braking systems (ABS) that will have to be fitted to all "bigger" motorbikes (i.e. those over 125 cc), while ABS or combined brake systems (CBS) could be fitted to smaller ones (under 125 cc), including scooters. By the end of 2019, the European Commission should present a cost-effectiveness analysis, with recommendations as to whether the rules should be revised to make ABS mandatory for smaller motorbikes, too. MEPs also welcomed the measures to improve the visibility of motorbikes and riders by introducing automatic switching-on of lighting when the engine starts.