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Compare by Country or TopicCompare rules of the road along your route here. Start by selecting at least two countries to compare. Thenselect topic(s) to compare. Selecting more than two countries restricts the comparison to a maximum of twotopics. Selecting more than two topics restricts the comparison to a maximum of two countries. Modify thecomparison by adding countries and topics and/or by deselecting them. An overview of the selections isdisplayed in the Criteria selected section. Click on the Generate comparative table button to display theresults in a table.

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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

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 )


Quad bikes (light & heavy )


Bulgaria not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds




Croatia not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

(Mandatory for children up to 16)

Mopeds




Cyprus not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds




CzechRepublic not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

(under-18's)

Mopeds




Denmark not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds




Estonia not mandatory mandatory

Cyclists and drivers of Segways, mini-mopeds and mopeds under 16 must wear astrapped cycle helmet when riding or driving on a road.

Mopeds




(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




France not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

(Recommended for children)

Mopeds




Germany not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds

(Not mandatory for vehicles with maximum speed of 20 km/h)






Greece not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds




Hungary not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

(Mandatory only outside built-up areas, at speeds higher than 50 km/h)

Mopeds




(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.


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.


These vehicles are classified as category B vehicles and the Road SafetyAuthority strongly recommends the use of safety helmets and otherprotective equipment by drivers.


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)


(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







Lithuania not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

(Mandatory for cyclists under 18, recommended for others)

Mopeds


(Does not apply to motorcycles equipped by the manufacturer with a safetyroll cage roof and safety belt system)



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).


Drivers are exempted from this obligation when the vehicle is fitted with abody structure (but in such case there is mandatory use of seatbelts).



Malta not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

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




Norway not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds




Poland not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds


(Except vehicles originally equipped with seat-belts)


(Except vehicles originally equipped with seat-belts)


(Except vehicles originally equipped with seat-belts and closed bodywork)

Portugal not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds




Romania not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Mopeds




Slovakia not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

(Cyclists up to 15 on all roads, all cyclists outside built-up areas)

Mopeds

(Drivers and passengers)







Slovenia not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

(Mandatory for children)

Mopeds


(Not mandatory for vehicles fitted with a restraint system)


(Not mandatory for vehicles fitted with a restraint system)


(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)







Sweden not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

(Only for under 15's)

Mopeds




Switzerland not mandatory mandatory

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







Unitedkingdom not mandatory mandatory

Bicycles

Strongly recommended but not mandatory.

Mopeds

Exemptions: followers of the Sikh religion while wearing a turban.






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.

compare by country or topic - european commission

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