These cars are 6 times more dangerous than others
The Belgian road safety institute Vias sends out a warning. License-free cars, very popular among young people and city dwellers, are very dangerous. Not because of their speed, but because of their lack of safety.
They're invading parking lots of high schools in upscale neighborhoods. They're also prominent in large cities. What's that? License-free cars, which have become trendy thanks to 100% electric models with a modern look, that are accessible from the age of 14 or 16 depending on legislation. They are even replacing scooters for older teenagers. While undoubtedly more reassuring than a motorized two-wheeler for parents, these "cars" are nevertheless dangerous. At least this is what Vias, the Belgian road safety institute considers and is asking authorities and users to make an effort.
High risk of injury
Even though their top speed is limited to 45km/h, these cars nevertheless circulate in the middle of road traffic, sometimes outside built-up areas. Although they're not yet seen in huge numbers compared to the total number of vehicles on the road, their accident rate with injury per kilometer traveled is 6 times higher. Why? Because the structure of the vehicle is not as developed as that of a conventional car. Many of these small cars do not have ABS or airbags. There is also a big difference in weight: 500kg for a car without a license and 1.4 to more than 2.5 tons for a car. The police have also noted that not wearing a seat belt is much more common among users of small cars. Therefore, the risk of serious injury, particularly to the head, is real.
Efforts to be made
Vias recommends greater awareness among drivers of these vehicles. It also asks the authorities to look into this phenomenon. Some countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, have already imposed the obligation of applying a specific signal to the rear of the vehicle to better identify it. The Belgian institute also defends the idea of a periodic technical inspection. As for the manufacturers, they could think about better safety of their small vehicles, which are certainly very nice, but ultimately not so safe.
(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source: La Dernière Heure with Belga – Picture: © Stellantis | Citroën)