Minimum age to ride moped changes today

Today the Spanish government changes the minimum age for being able to ride a 50cc motorcycle from 14 to 15.

This news has been received unfavourably by many young teens, who now will not get their much hoped-for independence as soon as they would have liked. Many manufacturers of mopeds also fear a fall in sales as a result.

The issue of the minimum age has been debated for a number of years now, but the government declared a moratorium to give those affected time to adapt.

However, the spokesman for left-wing party CiU, Jordi Jané, called for the period of grace to be extended further, stressing how riding a moped is good early training for driving a car and can mean fewer motor accidents among the young when they eventually pass their driving tests.

But the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) says the move could help reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries seen among moped riders.