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Comparative table
CountriesTopics
Safety helmet
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United kingdom
Heavy-duty motor vehicles
Buses
Seat belts
Traffic lights
Alcohol limits
Influence of drugs
Forbidden lane
Safety helmet
Mobile telephone
Other specific rules
European Commission
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Austria not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Only for children)
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Belgium optional compulsory
Bikes
Mopeds
(except those with an enclosed compartment for the driver)
Motorbikes with or without a sidecar
(except those with a seatbelt and enclosed compartment for the
driver)
Tricycles (light & heavy )
(except those with an enclosed compartment for the driver)
Quad bikes (light & heavy )
(except those with an enclosed compartment for the driver)
Bulgaria not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Croatia not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Mandatory for children up to 16)
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Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Cyprus not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
CzechRepublic not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(under-18's)
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Denmark not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Estonia not mandatory mandatory
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Cyclists and drivers of Segways, mini-mopeds and mopeds under 16
must wear astrapped cycle helmet when riding or driving on a
road.
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
(Does not apply to enclosed 3- and 4-wheeled motorcycles and
mopeds withseat belts and seats installed by the manufacturer)
Finland not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(recommended)
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
France not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Recommended for children)
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Germany not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
(Not mandatory for vehicles with maximum speed of 20 km/h)
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
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Light and heavy tricycles
(Not mandatory for vehicles with maximum speed of 20 km/h)
Light and heavy quadricycles
(Not mandatory for vehicles with maximum speed of 20 km/h)
Greece not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Hungary not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Mandatory only outside built-up areas, at speeds higher than 50
km/h)
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
(Mandatory where the maximum design speed is above 20 km/h)
Ireland not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Recommended but not mandatory
Mopeds
It is compulsory for riders and pillion passengers to wear a
safety helmetwhich must be properly secured. It is advisable to use
dipped headlights atall times when driving. High-visibility
clothing should be worn to increasevisibility and to help other
road users to clearly see riders and any pillionpassengers.
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
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It is compulsory for riders and pillion passengers to wear a
safety helmetwhich must be properly secured. It is advisable to use
dipped headlights atall times when driving. High-visibility
clothing should be worn to increasevisibility and to help other
road users to clearly see riders and any pillionpassengers.
Light and heavy tricycles
These vehicles are classified as category B vehicles and the
Road SafetyAuthority strongly recommends the use of safety helmets
and otherprotective equipment by drivers.
Light and heavy quadricycles
These vehicles are classified as category B vehicles and the
Road SafetyAuthority strongly recommends the use of safety helmets
and otherprotective equipment by drivers.
Italy not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
(Except with a passenger compartment)
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
(Except with a safety shell)
Light and heavy tricycles
(Except with a safety shell)
Light and heavy quadricycles
(Except with a safety shell)
Latvia not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Mandatory only for children)
Liechtenstein not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Drivers do not need to wear a helmet, unless they will be riding
faster than20km/h
Mopeds
Helmet must comply with UNECE Regulation 22
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Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Helmet must comply with UNECE Regulation 22
Light and heavy tricycles
Helmet must comply with UNECE Regulation 22
Light and heavy quadricycles
Helmet must comply with UNECE Regulation 22
Lithuania not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Mandatory for cyclists under 18, recommended for others)
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
(Does not apply to motorcycles equipped by the manufacturer with
a safetyroll cage roof and safety belt system)
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Luxembourg not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Drivers are exempted from this obligation when the vehicle is
fitted with abody structure (but in such case there is mandatory
use of seatbelts).
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Drivers are exempted from this obligation when the vehicle is
fitted with abody structure (but in such case there is mandatory
use of seatbelts).
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Malta not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
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The use of helmet is mandatory for power assisted pedal cycles
and forchildren under 10 travelling pillion in a safety seat.
Two-wheel vehicles of category L1e (mopeds)
Two-wheel vehicles of categories L3e, L4e (motorcycles
with/without asidecar)
Motor tricycles of categories L2e, L5e (light and heavy
tricycles)
Motor quadricycles of categories L6e, L7e (light and heavy
quadricycles)
Netherlands not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Norway not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Poland not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
(Except vehicles originally equipped with seat-belts)
Light and heavy tricycles
(Except vehicles originally equipped with seat-belts)
Light and heavy quadricycles
(Except vehicles originally equipped with seat-belts and closed
bodywork)
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Portugal not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Romania not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Slovakia not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Cyclists up to 15 on all roads, all cyclists outside built-up
areas)
Mopeds
(Drivers and passengers)
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
(Drivers and passengers)
Light and heavy tricycles
(Drivers and passengers)
Light and heavy quadricycles
(Drivers and passengers)
Slovenia not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Mandatory for children)
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Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
(Not mandatory for vehicles fitted with a restraint system)
Light and heavy tricycles
(Not mandatory for vehicles fitted with a restraint system)
Light and heavy quadricycles
(not mandatory for vehicles fitted with a restraint system or
closed cabin)
Spain not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Cyclists under 16: mandatoryCyclists over 16: recommended in
urban areas and mandatory outside urbanareas )
Mopeds
(Exemption for medical reasons on presentation of a medical
certificate)
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
(Exemption for medical reasons on presentation of a medical
certificate)
Light and heavy tricycles
(Exemption for medical reasons on presentation of a medical
certificate)
Light and heavy quadricycles
(Exemption for medical reasons on presentation of a medical
certificate)
Sweden not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
(Only for under 15's)
Mopeds
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Light and heavy quadricycles
Switzerland not mandatory mandatory
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Bicycles
Drivers do not need to wear a helmet provided that the maximum
speed isnot higher than 20km/h
Mopeds
Helmet must comply with UN ECE Regulation 22
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Helmet must comply with UN ECE Regulation 22
Light and heavy tricycles
Helmet must comply with UN ECE Regulation 22
Light and heavy quadricycles
Helmet must comply with UN ECE Regulation 22
Unitedkingdom not mandatory mandatory
Bicycles
Strongly recommended but not mandatory.
Mopeds
Exemptions: followers of the Sikh religion while wearing a
turban.
Motorcycles with/without a sidecar
Light and heavy tricycles
Strongly recommended but not mandatory.
Light and heavy quadricycles
Strongly recommended but not mandatory.
The information on this website according to Article 8(1) of the
road safety directive (Directive 2015/413/EU) is provided by
thenational authorities in the country concerned. In the event of
any conflict between the provided data and the rules in effect in
agiven country, the latter take precedence. The data are meant
purely as a documentation tool and the Commission does notassume
any liability for their content or their accuracy.