Par
Nicolas Pipelier
Published on
Nov 17 2024 at 6:20 am
See my news
Follow Le Journal du Pays Yonnais
“It’s a real problem that affects many young people. » On patrol on the roads of Vendée, theDepartmental road safety squadron is sad to see more and more “unbridled” or “kited” cyclos.
The phenomenon particularly affects small motorcycles. “There is a fashion effect,” observes captain Sébastien Alcasou. “It's a race to see who has the most aesthetically pleasing vehicle, with higher performance than their friend's motorcycle. »
Except that not all of the Wednesday afternoon handymen have a helping hand. For a hundred euros, transformation kits are sold on the Web or in stores. In garages, trails and other super-motorcycles are often customized with the means at hand, from tutorials on the Internet.
Once unbridled, the 50 cm3 can reach 70 km/h, or even 90 km/h for kited engines. Far from the 45 km/h authorized by law.
Parents to watch
“When you put €150 into a kit, it’s often to the detriment of the rest: the tires and the brakes,” regrets Captain Alcasou. Regularly, the gendarmes (see photo) see machines at worn rubber and broken records. Symptoms of premature wear linked to increased speed.
“Some people think that a restricted moped represents a danger linked to its speed in the flow of traffic. This is false! » In the event of an accident caused by an unbridled cyclo, “the parents just have to sell the house. Insurance can withdraw and Social Security to become a civil party.”
The same goes for faulty lighting. “They're going to change the fairing to look like a dirt bike. »
Des Ledsmore discreet, then act as lighthouses. When it's not the cell phone. “It is up to parents to ensure that their child's vehicle is roadworthy,” insists the gendarmerie.
Smoked visors
Riding tricked-out bikes, “young people tend to want to ride mechanics”. Even if it means flouting the rules learned during the passage of moped license, category AM, mandatory.
“The problem is that they are not trained to drive beyond the expected speed (45 km/h) and often on vehicles whose brakes and tires are not dimensioned,” notes the gendarme. “At 14, 16 years old, we don't have the maturity to appreciate other users. »
The authorities are therefore leading the hunt for prohibited practices and dangerous equipment. The list is long: non-approved gloves, smoked visors… “An unapproved visor costs €90, as for an unapproved helmet. » Without forgetting the verification of technical inspection, mandatory for all cyclists registered before 1is January 2017.
20.6% of bodily or fatal accidents
These measures have only one goal: “to ensure security”, insists the gendarmerie. The violations observed are always the same: excessive speed, failure to respect priorities, lack of visibility and lack of vehicle maintenance.
In 2024, 20.6% of bodily or fatal accidents (49 cases) recorded in Vendée are linked to cyclos. “Significant figures if we take into account their volume in the overall flow. »
In 2023, cyclos and motorcycles were involved in 38% of accidents. With two wheels, the percentage rises to 49.7%. Either one in two accidents.
Alarming when we know that 58% of cyclists killed are between 15 and 24 years old. And that there is 21 times more risk of having an accident on two wheels than in a car.
Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.
