The big four cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague have called on the government to get much tougher on people riding souped-up mopeds without helmets.

They say 77% of mopeds (snorscooters) go faster than the permitted 25 kph, and are both a danger to themselves and other road users.

In Amsterdam, almost half of the people killed in traffic accidents this year were driving a moped. In 2012, moped drivers were involved in 689 accidents, most of which took place on cycle lanes, the Parool reported on Monday afternoon.

The cities have asked transport minister Melanie Schultz and justice minister Ivo Opstelten to investigate shifting mopeds from cycle lanes to the main road and introducing compulsory helmets.

Schultz told parliament earlier she is not in favour of the move.