The state plans to review regulations for the lightest vehicles, and among the changes is a ban on children under the age of ten from using electric scooters, writes ERR News.
Electric scooters have been a problem since they first appeared on the streets. Although rental scooters initially caused more concern, private vehicles are now becoming a major problem, many of which can reach speeds exceeding the city’s 25 kilometers per hour limit. Climate Minister Kuldar Leis pointed out that there are now different types of vehicles available, and it is no longer just about Tallinn or Tartu, but that there is an increase in danger in other places as well, so new regulations are needed.
One of the proposals discussed by the transport commission is to introduce an age limit and not allow the use of electric scooters under the age of ten, regardless of whether they are ridden on the street, sidewalk or cycle path. Leis explained that there is a basis for such a proposal – if the number of accidents involving adults has not increased, then the number of victims among children is increasing. This year, the number of accidents involving light vehicles and children has increased by 45 compared to last year.
According to the police, the biggest problem over the past year and a half has been electric motorcycles.
Some of the models can reach speeds of one hundred kilometers per hour and are not allowed to be used on public roads.
Taavi Kirss, head of the traffic department of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), said that such vehicles are freely available on the market, and parents buy them for teenagers. In some places near Tallinn, they have become a serious problem. Although these motorcycles are advertised as a convenient means of transportation to get to school, Kirss called for caution so that they do not fall into the hands of children.
From the perspective of the Estonian Road Traffic Insurance Fund, a big problem is that many of these types of vehicles still do not have valid insurance, despite a law passed at the end of last year requiring them to have it. A representative of the fund said that there have been fewer than 20 accidents involving uninsured vehicles this season, but one of them caused losses of more than 33,000 euros.
One of the most common types of accidents is being hit by cars, which often also injures the driver of an electric scooter.
The new rules are planned to be ready by spring.
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