Volodymyr Kreidenko, Ukrainian MP, deputy chairman of the Committee on Transport

Ukraine is currently in the midst of a global trend — the popularity of two-wheeled transport in large cities is growing rapidly. For many, it is a symbol of freedom and mobility; however, for statistics, it is a cause for alarm. Motorcyclists and moped drivers, along with pedestrians and cyclists, belong to the most vulnerable group — the so-called "vulnerable road users".

According to official data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, sales of motorcycles and mopeds in Ukraine have increased by almost half from 2020 to 2024. Surveys by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) show that since the beginning of 2025, one in eight Ukrainians has been using motorized two-wheelers — more than 8.5% as drivers and 4.5% as passengers. The most active users are young people aged 18–29, making up 28% of the respondents.

However, alongside the demand, tragic statistics have arrived. Compared to 2024, we are seeing a dangerous dynamic:

• The number of accidents involving fatalities and/or injuries increased by 4% (from 4,325 to 4,503 cases).
• The number of injured persons increased by 2% (reaching 4,971 people).
• Most terrifyingly, the number of fatalities increased by 11%, reaching 438 people.

The mortality rate per 1 million population in 2025 rose to 14.1, which is 11% higher than last year — a significant deterioration. Looking at a broader horizon, over the period of 2021–2025, this rate has almost doubled, demonstrating an 83% increase. Particular concern is raised by the fact that the growth in fatalities is twice as fast as the growth in accidents. This is a direct indication of the increasing severity of crashes, where factors of impact force and speed play a critical role.

The causes of such accidents in Ukraine remain insufficiently researched compared to other modes of transport, especially against the backdrop of a lack of detailed data from the National Police. However, research by the European Commission indicates a systemic problem: a significant share of collisions occur with cars in situations where the car driver should have yielded the right of way to the motorized two-wheeler. Motorcycles are often simply "not seen" on the road due to problems with perception and their low visibility.

The situation is worsened by speed. Scientific research published in the Journal of Safety Research indicates that "looked but failed to see" accidents are most often associated with the higher speed of motorcycles compared to other types of accidents. Speed determines not only the likelihood of a collision but also whether a person has a chance to survive in the event of an accident.

We cannot ignore this "stagnation of mortality". This is why Draft Law No. 13314 has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada . it proposes reducing the "non-fineable" speed threshold to 10 km/h and introduces a clear gradation of liability depending on the level of speeding. This is a step that should force drivers to think about the price of every extra digit on the speedometer.

But speed is only part of the equation. When an accident has already occurred, the quality of protective equipment is of decisive importance. Approximately 75% of deaths in such accidents are caused by head injuries, making the mandatory use of helmets essential.

Currently, 65% of motorcycle users in Ukraine wear helmets, but only 22% are certain that their protection meets safety certification standards. The rest use products that are often merely "decorative helmets" that cannot provide real protection during a collision.

The solution lies in implementing the international ECE No. 22 standard. This regulation has already been included in a draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. It is expected that by 2026, all new helmets imported or sold in Ukraine will be required to comply with the ECE No. 22.06 version. This will give the state a legal mechanism to remove dangerous fakes from the market.

A high-quality certified helmet reduces the risk of death 6 times and the risk of traumatic brain injury by 74%. For the state, this is not only a matter of preserving human capital but also a colossal saving — complete coverage with certified helmets could save the economy between 7.4 and 21.8 billion UAH per year.

Road safety is not about restrictions; it is about the right to return home alive. And we must do everything to ensure this right is protected by both the law and high-quality equipment.