Özgür Şener, Road and Traffic Safety Consultant, evaluating the recent amendment to the Highways Traffic Regulation which makes it possible for individuals holding a B-class driver's license and meeting certain conditions to use motorcycles, drew attention to the potential for this official regulation to bring significant losses. Stating that we must take necessary precautions, considering a large increase of 1 million new motorcycles year-on-year, Şener said, "Motorcycles don't forgive mistakes. Driver's license acquisition processes should be made more difficult, not easier."
Özgür Şener, Lecturer at Üsküdar University's Department of Occupational Health and Safety, and Road and Traffic Safety Consultant, evaluated the possibility for individuals holding a B-class driver's license and meeting certain conditions to use motorcycles, following the amendment made to the Highways Traffic Regulation.
Motorcycles up to 125 cc can be used by fulfilling certain conditions
Özgür Şener reminded that with the amendment made to the Highways Traffic Regulation on February 10, 2024, it became possible for individuals holding a B-class driver's license and meeting certain conditions to use motorcycles. He stated that, according to the published regulation, those with at least 2 years of valid B-class driver's license experience can use motorcycles up to 125 cc by fulfilling certain conditions.
Will the legal change facilitating motorcycle use increase traffic accidents?
Şener also stated that motorcycles used for any commercial activity are mentioned as an exception here, and he continued:
“Approximately 1.2 million traffic accidents are officially recorded in our country every year. In these accidents, although it varies from year to year, between 5,000 and 7,000 of our people lose their lives annually, and 250,000-300,000 are injured. A study conducted by the General Directorate of Security revealed that the annual financial loss from traffic accidents amounts to 108 billion TL.
Considering this grim picture, with irreversible deaths and injuries that will never be the same, we need to understand what necessity led to this legal change facilitating motorcycle use, which is almost certain to increase the negative effects of traffic accidents.”
Motorcycles do not have a structure that protects the driver and passenger
Özgür Şener, Road and Traffic Safety Consultant, pointed out that riding a motorcycle is indeed a very enjoyable activity, stating, “However, the most critical feature distinguishing a motorcycle from a car is that it does not have a structure that protects the driver and any passenger. In cars and other road vehicles with bodywork, there are numerous features that enhance driver and passenger safety: door bars and bodywork, seat belts, airbags, etc. On motorcycles, the most important protective gear is the helmet and other protective equipment. For this reason, this enjoyable activity, unfortunately, turns into a matter of life and death for a motorcycle user who lacks the necessary traffic safety infrastructure, sufficient knowledge, skills, and experience, does not use the required personal protective equipment, and does not comply with traffic rules, especially regarding speed selection.”
Number of motorcycles in traffic increased from 3 million to 5 million…
Özgür Şener, Road and Traffic Safety Consultant, pointed out a significant increase in the number of motorcycles and motorcycle users with the rise of motorcycle couriers, stating that while the number of motorcycles in traffic was 3,331,326 at the end of 2019, this number reached approximately 5,080,000 in 2023.
Özgür Şener, Road and Traffic Safety Consultant, explained that in 2021, the number of registered motorcycles in traffic was 3,744,370, the number of motorcycles involved in fatal and injury traffic accidents was 64,479, the number of people killed was 777, and the number of people injured was 56,257. He added, “In 2022, the number of registered motorcycles in traffic was 4,141,914, the number of motorcycles involved in fatal and injury traffic accidents was 71,270, the number of people killed was 791, and the number of people injured was 61,482. While we cannot tolerate a single loss of life or a single injury in traffic accidents, we must fully grasp and carefully evaluate the increase in the number of deaths and injuries in just one year.”
“This official regulation has the potential to bring significant losses”
Şener noted that studies and training conducted in the field revealed that drivers do not even know traffic signs, which are the most basic knowledge of traffic. He said, “While we currently need to make significant changes in driver’s license acquisition processes and issue driver’s licenses to individuals who possess 'Safe Driving' awareness and knowledge and can apply them to their driving, and periodically renew their training, there is no doubt that this official regulation, which facilitates motorcycle use, has the potential to bring significant losses.”
Şener noted that people who want to escape traffic congestion use two-wheeled transportation vehicles such as motorcycles and electric scooters, and he expressed the following:
“We anticipate that the popularity of transportation vehicles like motorcycles and electric scooters, which provide easy access to a large part of the city, will increase until comfortable public transportation systems are established.”
“Driver’s license acquisition processes should be made more difficult, not easier”
Considering all this, to reduce traffic accidents, which are one of our country's significant problems, driver's license acquisition processes should be made more difficult, not easier. For all vehicle types that will enter traffic, we must establish and operate 'Safe Driving'-based driver's license acquisition systems that provide a 'Traffic Culture' infrastructure, and we must ensure that each driver's license is issued under the same standards through very strict supervision.
Considering the structure of a motorcycle and the potential for injury and death of its user and any passenger in the event of an accident, we must take this issue much more seriously for motorcycle riders. We should not make it easier; we should make it harder. We must take necessary precautions, considering a large increase of 1 million new motorcycles year-on-year. We all must know very well that motorcycles don't forgive mistakes.”