Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Mechelen, police did 35 checks, catching 14 boomcars, 23 rule-breaking cyclists and seizing 13 unsafe vehicles. Mayor Bart Somers and Dirk Van de Sande stress road safety.
In the last 2 weeks, police in Mechelen did 35 checks in different areas of Mechelen. They were checking for traffic safety and bad behaviour. These checks resulted in 14 official reports about “boomcars” – cars that drive around playing loud music, which bothers people.
On Saturday, May 24, 2025, in the Bruul, a busy shopping street, police caught 23 cyclists breaking the rules about where they can ride their bikes. The police also took 13 vehicles, mostly mopeds and e-steps that had been modified to go faster, which is against the law and unsafe on the roads.
How is Mechelen addressing dangerous driving and improving road safety for all?
Mayor Bart Somers of Mechelen is worried because many people are getting annoyed with drivers who drive recklessly and cause problems. He said it’s not just annoying, but sometimes it’s also dangerous. Somers mentioned a recent report by the federal police that shows people feel least safe on the roads.
Because of this, the city is focusing on making the roads safer and enforcing the rules. They know that traffic problems affect not only noise and convenience but also how safe people feel. The mayor said Mechelen will keep working on stopping bad and unsafe driving to make the city safer and better for everyone.
The Rivierenland police were busy this past week checking traffic in Mechelen, Puurs-Sint-Amands, Bornem and Willebroek. They focused on the traffic of users of 2-wheeled vehicles; bikes, e-bikes, scooters, mopeds and motorbikes. The police stopped 60 cyclists for breaking various traffic rules, such as riding through red lights and or using their phones while riding.
8 scooter riders got fines for not following the rules, using their phones, or making their scooters go too fast. Also, 15 moped riders were caught for serious offences like speeding, driving the wrong way, and not having a license.
“It is important that we continue to raise awareness among every road user, because more and more people are moving around on 2 wheels.”
Dirk Van de Sande, Rivierenland police zone
Dirk Van de Sande from the Rivierenland Police Zone stated that the main objective of the campaign was to raise awareness for all road users about road safety. With greater numbers of people opting for bicycles, scooters or mopeds for their daily journeys, the police feel it is necessary to remind traffic participants about road safety.
Van de Sande stressed that the checks exist to encourage mobility – mobility that is as safe as possible, and mobility that does not take unnecessary risks, whether to the individual, or to others. Although police will continue the awareness aspect, Van de Sande explicitly stated people who break the rules of the road can expect to be fined in this two-pronged approach of education and enforcement, with a goal of achieving safer streets for all road users, on two wheels or four.
