This study places the traffic safety of both mopeds and "snorfietsen" in the Netherlands into an historical context. It appears that in about 1990, the moped was mainly used by young people, especially by boys. The chance of moped riders being either killed or seriously injured in an accident is very great. In the 1985-1990 period, the number of victims among male moped riders remained the same, but increased among female moped riders. However, the year 1991 shows a decline in the registrated victims (with the exception of fatalities), both for men and women. In the 1985-1990 period, the number of wounded "snorfietsers" increased in the municipalitity of Amsterdam more than in the rest of the Netherlands. The increase in the number of wounded "snorfietsers" among boys of 16 and 17 years old was remarkable in Amsterdam. Compared with the year 1990, the number of victims among "snorfietsers" in Amsterdam remained the same in the year 1991, contrary to the rest of the Netherlands. The paper also shows how the safety of both moped riders and "snorfietsers" can be improved, for instance, by training and education, and taking measures against tuning up the engine of mopeds and "snorfietsen".
Abstract