While the proposal makes its way through parliament and to the Council of State, the government is working on a balance between innovation and regulation.
The Dutch government is taking steps to increase road safety and to monitor the growth of special mopeds by introducing a registration and license plate requirement. This decision, taken at the proposal of Minister Mark Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management, will impose new requirements on owners of vehicles such as the BSO bus and self-balancing mopeds, for example Segway, the electric scooter and stint.
This will simplify the distinction between authorized and unauthorized vehicles, a step that, according to the minister, is essential for both safety and compliance with the rules on public roads. The outgoing cabinet agreed to this on Friday. The new regulation means that, in addition to new special mopeds that come onto the market, current users of the estimated 5.000 already authorized vehicles will also fall under the new legislation. They have one year to register their vehicles with the RDW. The service is ready to take on this task and emphasizes that the expected numbers can easily be processed.
“We see more and more new and innovative vehicles around us. Only some of them have been approved and can be used on the road. If vehicles are similar in appearance, it is difficult to tell whether that specific vehicle has been approved. I find that undesirable, because unapproved vehicles have not been found to be safe enough. The introduction of a license plate requirement ensures that people and enforcement officers can see at a glance whether they are allowed to drive this vehicle.”
This measure reflects the government's adaptive policy towards the growing diversity in mobility solutions. With a cost of 18 euros per registration and a subsidy covering the difference from the standard price, the ministry emphasizes its commitment to minimizing the burden on citizens while maximizing safety.
Although the design of the license plate is still a subject of discussion, with special attention to vehicles where limited space is available, it is clear that the government is committed to clear identification of approved vehicles. In addition to the direct benefits for safety and supervision, this development also offers the opportunity to better monitor the spread and use of special mopeds, which helps policy makers to anticipate and plan for traffic congestion and the dynamics on cycle paths.
