Here in my city on summer time I can see people driving mopeds without helmet and in T shirt and shorts every day!
Also, any bigger bike is driven with full protective equipment!
I think that general opinion about mopeds is they are something like "quick transporting vehicle from A to B" and thats it. Nothing else is important.
I am really sad when I see 14 year old kids on brand new scooters rushing over the streets at 60+ km/h, in shorts and with sunglasses...? They seem to have no idea about how simply falling from a bike can be dangerous, not to tell crash with a object...
I don't know...maybe I am too concerned about the safety on the bike, but ok, I can live with that, but it really hurts me when i see an accident that could be avoided. Police is doing job nicely, but it is not enough.
And hey, it is cool to be 15 years old and drive your new moped fast and furious in front of the girls, right?
Sorry all for being boring about this stuff...my younger brother likes bikes, too, and I am not happy about that very much. Luckily (for my internal peace) he seems to enjoy our car much more lately.
Drive safe, guys!