Traffic Doctors Seek Changes to Motorcycle-Taxi Bill to Prevent More Road Deaths

Brazil’s traffic doctors are warning that a government measure designed to make motorcycle-taxi work easier could instead bring more deaths and traffic injuries. The Brazilian Association of Traffic Medicine, Abramet, sent a technical opinion to the special commission examining the measure and demanded major changes.

The provisional measure removes three safeguards: the minimum age of 21 for professional motorcycle-taxi drivers, specialized training and semiannual inspections of mandatory equipment. The measure also cancels provisions from a 2009 law created under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The motorcycle-taxi sector has described the change as a setback.

Abramet argues that any simplification must include specific training and proof of experience for drivers who want to work professionally. It also wants periodic checks of motorcycle safety conditions. Another proposal would create a dedicated system to track crashes involving motorcycle-taxi drivers, motorcycle couriers and delivery-platform workers, allowing authorities to monitor deaths and hospital admissions linked to the new rules.

The association points to the scale of the risk. Ministry of Health data show more than 227,000 hospital admissions in 2024, with motorcyclists accounting for 60% of them. Federal Highway Police data indicate that motorcyclists represented 45% of all crashes recorded on federal highways during the first half of 2026.

Abramet’s scientific director, Flavio Adura, said work-related riders face greater exposure to crashes and fatal injuries. “Fatigue, drowsiness and distraction can compromise attention, judgment, reaction time and motor coordination, and they must not be disregarded when defining the rules for professional activities involving motorcycles,” he said.

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Fatigue, drowsiness and distraction can compromise attention, judgment, reaction time and motor coordination, and they must not be disregarded when defining the rules for professional activities involving motorcycles.