ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AND OTHER LIGHT PERSONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLES (L.P.E.V.)

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW

Electric scooters have been in our lives for some time now. We see them all around us meandering through traffic, on the road or on the sidewalk, at high or low speeds. When they appeared there was a legislative gap, which the legislator was called upon to fix.

Electric scooters belong to the category of Light Personal Electric Vehicles together with e-rollers, e-skateboards and self-balancing personal vehicles (motorized unicycles or two-wheeled dual-track vehicles - hoverboards, segways). But what are some of the rules that govern them?

• Minimum permitted age of use is 12 years.

• The helmet is mandatory for all L.P.E.V. which can develop a speed from 7 km/h to 25 km/h.

• The maximum permitted speed in all cases, regardless of the ability of the L.P.E.V., is 25 km/h except on pedestrian streets, where the limit is 6 km/h.

• Carrying a second person (passenger) is prohibited.

• The use of headphones and mobile phones is prohibited, unless the latter is on a special stand (not held in the hands) and on speakerphone.

• When pedestrians are encountered, they always have priority over L.P.E.V.

• They must have lighting on both the front and the back of the vehicle and reflective clothing must be worn at night.

• The parallel movement of two or more L.P.E.V. is prohibited.

• When a danger or obstacle is detected, the drivers must move the L.P.E.V. by walking.

• It is forbidden to transport objects that hinder the driving of the vehicle or expose other road users to danger.

  
  

But where are they allowed to move? They are allowed on cycle paths, where they exist, on pedestrian streets (maximum speed 6 km/h) and on roads with a speed limit of up to 50 km/h moving exclusively on the right edge of the road surface if there is no cycle path. On the other hand, their movement is prohibited on roads with a speed limit of more than 50 km/h, on pedestrian streets with vehicle traffic and on pedestrian streets with a large concentration of pedestrians.

Finally, some of the fines in the event of various violation are set as follows:

• Speeding (25-35 km/h) = €40

• Speeding (over 35 km/h) = €100

• No helmet = €20

• Driving in an unauthorized area = €100

• Traffic light violation = €80