Spain to increase age limit for big bikes

DUE TO the dramatic increase in motorcycle-related deaths, the Spanish government is planning to up the age limit to for those wishing to ride larger motorcycles to 24.

Sources say the measures, announced to Congress by the Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, would include limiting 125cc bikes to the age of 16 and up to 400cc for 18 year olds.

A licence for a 500 cc bike would only be granted at the age of 24, with at least two years' experience with the lower size of motorcycle.

The Minister told the Road Safety Commission in Congress that the 53% rise in traffic fatalities this summer is mainly due to motorbike accidents, and said 88% of the motorbikes involved were 500cc or more.

He did, however, say that fatalities were 14.3% down between 1st July 2006 and 30th June 2007, compared with the same period in the previous year.

Could this be the start of something?