President Klaus Iohannis has promulgated a law that states that moped and motorcycle drivers will no longer be required to have reflective triangles, a first aid kit, and a fire extinguisher.
“To be driven on public roads, vehicles, with the exception of those in categories AM, A1, A2, and A, agricultural or forestry tractors, and trams must be equipped with a first aid medical kit, two reflective triangles, and a fire extinguisher, approved,” the promulgated law states.
These are items that “not only cannot eliminate the risks and complications of an accident in which they would be involved, but can also put their lives in danger,” argue the initiators of the legislative proposal from USR (an Opposition party from Romania).
“Together with my colleagues from USR, we have prepared several legislative initiatives targeting the motorcycle community in Romania, which we will submit in the near future,” stated Senator Cristi Berea, initiator of the bill, according to the party's press release.
Until this law, the Traffic Code made no distinction between vehicles and required all drivers to have two reflective triangles, a medical kit, and a fire extinguisher. Failure to comply with this obligation results in a fine of up to 825 lei.
However, mopeds and motorcycles are small-sized vehicles with limited compartment space, so drivers are forced, in order to be equipped with all the specified items, to attach additional spaces, which can unbalance and lead to accidents.
The option of carrying a backpack on your back is not a happier one either, considering that, in the event of an accident, regardless of severity, the driver is ejected from the vehicle along with the extinguisher behind him and the other blunt objects.
At present, many holders of licenses in categories AM, A1, A2, and A are not even informed that they have the same obligation as drivers of passenger transport vehicles, which is why they are sometimes an easy target for fines.