70% of motorcyclists are unaware that they can be fined for wearing a helmet camera

The study carried out by AMV reveals the most curious infractions and also the most unknown by bikers. Wearing reflective stickers, not using a reflective vest in an emergency in some countries or doing a wheelie are some examples.

Exceeding the speed limits, overtaking with a continuous line, skipping a stop sign or a give way, or even going without a helmet are prohibitions that every biker knows and are also the most common fines. According to data from the AMV insurer, 80% of fines for drivers are for one of these reasons.

However, there are other not so well-known prohibitions that could affect our pocket and our security if we do not pay attention to them. A recent survey carried out by AMV among its users concludes that 70% of the motorcyclists surveyed do not know that they could be fined for wearing a camera on their motorcycle helmet.

But, in addition, there are other prohibitions that many bikers ignore: wearing stickers, where to park, who can ride a “package” or the reflective vest are some of the most unknown by bikers. We show you which are the most curious and the fines that we would face for failing to comply with them.

Using a helmet camera

For a few years the helmet camera has become an accessory widely used by many bikers to record routes or participate in competitions. Recordings that are sometimes shared among the bikers themselves or published on web pages and social networks. But is it legal to wear a helmet video camera? The answer is no. And because? Well, simply because the helmets are not approved to wear them.

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Currently, the reference standard for the approval of motorcycle helmets is the new ECE 22.06. Based on it, manufacturers carry out numerous tests to measure the level of safety of the products they are going to market. These tests do not carry out tests on helmets with cameras installed, so if an agent notices that a motorcyclist uses a camera on the helmet, they may interpret that the latter has not been approved to have said device installed or that the camera could alter some helmet features. This can lead to a fine of 200 euros and the withdrawal of 4 points from the driver's license.

Carry Stickers

Despite the fact that most stickers are accepted, many bikers are unaware that it is not allowed to wear any type and that there are some that are mandatory. For example, if your motorcycle is already a few years old, you must necessarily carry the ITV sticker in the upper right corner of the windshield. If they do not have it, it must be placed in a place that is clearly visible such as the fairing, the chassis, the fork or the front fender. Not carrying it can result in a fine of between 80 and 100 euros.

There is also the DGT environmental label which, although it is not mandatory to carry, is recommended for those motorcycles that are going to access areas with traffic restrictions such as Madrid Central or the Barcelona Low Emission Zone (ZBE). Not wearing the badge in the restricted area of ​​Madrid results in a fine of 15 euros.

On the other hand, wearing stickers that have some kind of reflective or luminescent effect is not allowed and their use carries a fine of 200 euros.

Reflective vest

This element is not mandatory in Spain in the case of motorcycles. However, if we leave our country things change: in France it is mandatory. If you are going to leave Spain, it is recommended that you purchase a reflective vest.

The L is also mandatory on motorcycles

Novice bikers must also wear the L for a year, although most know they should wear it, not everyone does. It must be placed in a visible place on the back of the motorcycle and breaching the rule can mean a fine of up to 150 euros.

As for the motorcycle companion, they must be over 12 years old and occupy the rear seat exclusively (if the motorcycle does not have homologation and there is a passenger, the fine is 200 euros), although there are nuances. For example, from 7 to 12 years old, you can also go "package" but only if the driver is the father, mother or guardian, or a person of legal age who has been authorized by the latter. The fine for taking a child under 12 years old on a motorcycle is 200 euros. By the way, minors under 17 years of age cannot bring a companion in any case, the fine will be 90 euros.

Car parks

In addition to specific spaces or parking lots, motorcycles can be parked on the sidewalk as long as the following conditions are met: the sidewalk is more than three meters wide; that the motorcycle is parked parallel to the curb when the sidewalk is less than six meters wide; in battery when it is more than six meters wide; and in the alcorques (the hole dug at the foot of a tree), in the area closest to the curb. The fine for parking incorrectly ranges from 30 to 200 euros.

Passing on the right

Bikers also know that you have to pay a lot of attention when passing, that it should be on the left and that when we have completed the maneuver we should return to the right lane immediately. Otherwise, we will be penalized. But, many times we also see how some motorcycles overtake other vehicles on the right. Is it legal to do so? The answer is yes, but only on these occasions:

1. If there is sufficient space for it, overtaking will be done to the right, and taking maximum precautions, when the driver of the vehicle that is intended to overtake is clearly indicating his intention to change direction to the left or stop on that side.
2. Likewise, on roads with circulation in both directions, you can overtake trams that run through the central area. And within towns, on roads that have at least two lanes reserved for traffic in the same direction of travel and delimited by longitudinal markings, overtaking on the right is allowed provided that the driver of the vehicle that When doing so, make sure beforehand that you can do it without danger to other users.

Therefore, when driving on a highway, we can never overtake on the right even if the vehicle in front of us is slow and it does not appear that you intend to move into the right lane. Doing so can lead to a fine of 200 euros.

Other curious sanctions