In Poland, parents of children riding electric scooters without helmets began to be fined: what sanctions are provided

Europe continues to tighten safety rules for electric scooter users. In Poland, the first case of holding parents accountable for violating new requirements regarding the use of protective helmets by children has already been recorded. A mother of a 14-year-old teenager was fined after her son rode an electric scooter without a helmet.

The incident occurred on the very first day the new rules came into effect and attracted attention amid discussions in Ukraine, where comprehensive regulation of the use of electric scooters and other small electric transport is also being proposed.

In the city of Legnica, law enforcement officers applied the new rules on the mandatory use of protective helmets by children on electric scooters for the first time. The mother of the 14-year-old boy was fined after her son was caught riding without a helmet.

New rules for children on electric scooters in Poland

The new regulations came into force on June 3. They require all persons under 16 years of age to wear protective helmets while moving, including on electric scooters.

According to the Legnica City Police Command, violations were recorded on the very first day the new rules took effect.

On Piłsudski Street, two 14-year-old teenagers were riding on one electric scooter. The boys were moving on the sidewalk, although there was a bike lane nearby.

The accident happened on the first day of the new requirements

According to the police, at one point the teenagers quickly entered a pedestrian crossing where a passenger car was passing. As a result, a traffic accident occurred. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

The police established that the scooter driver violated the ban on carrying passengers on an electric scooter. At the same time, the passenger did not have the mandatory protective helmet.

For this, the boy's mother was fined 50 zlotys (about 600 hryvnias). The maximum fine for such a violation is 100 zlotys (about 1200 hryvnias).

Regarding the teenager who was driving the electric scooter, law enforcement prepared materials for transporting a passenger and causing a traffic accident. The documents were transferred to the juvenile affairs unit.

Rules for using electric scooters

The Legnica police emphasized that wearing a protective helmet and following traffic rules while operating electric scooters help prevent accidents and serious injuries.

Law enforcement also reminded that in Poland, with some exceptions, persons from 13 years old who have a bicycle card or the appropriate driver's license can operate electric scooters.

Ukraine is preparing new rules for electric scooters and other small electric transport

The issue of electric scooter safety remains relevant for Ukraine as well. Currently, draft law No. 15284 "On the peculiarities of using small electric transport in Ukraine" is registered in the Verkhovna Rada, which proposes comprehensive regulation of the use of electric scooters, unicycles, electric bicycles, segways, hoverboards, and other small electric transport.

As previously reported by the "Judicial and Legal Newspaper", the need to adopt such a law is explained by the increase in the number of road traffic accidents involving users of electric scooters and other similar vehicles.

Currently, Ukraine does not have a special law that fully regulates the use of small electric transport as a separate category of vehicles. Legal regulation in this area is mainly carried out through general provisions of traffic legislation and traffic rules.

What changes does draft law No. 15284 propose

The document defines small electric transport as one-, two-, or three-wheeled mechanical vehicles powered by an electric motor. This category is proposed to include electric scooters, unicycles, electric bicycles, segways, hoverboards, gyroscooters, and other similar means of transportation.

The draft law proposes to allow the movement of such transport on specially equipped bike lanes, as well as on the rightmost parts of sidewalks, pedestrian zones, and recreational areas, provided that pedestrians are given priority.

Additionally, the document sets speed limits depending on the place of movement. In particular, the maximum speed may be up to 50 km/h on certain bike lanes, while in places where pedestrians move, a limit of up to 10 km/h is proposed.

Users of small electric transport are also proposed to be prohibited from operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicants.

What fines may be introduced for electric scooter users

The draft law provides for the addition of a new article 126-1 "Violation of requirements for the use of small electric transport" to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.

For the first violation, a fine of 1700 hryvnias is proposed. For repeated violations — a fine of 3400 hryvnias with confiscation of the electric transport vehicle. For the third and each subsequent violation, a fine of 17,000 hryvnias and corrective labor may be imposed.

Separately, the draft law provides new requirements for companies that rent electric scooters. In particular, it proposes to oblige rental operators to technically limit the speed depending on the place of use of the vehicle.

Technical inspection and age restrictions for electric scooters are also being discussed in Ukraine

Earlier, the "Judicial and Legal Newspaper" raised the issue of introducing a technical control system for such transport, similar to cars, amid the increase in the number of accidents involving electric scooters.

Specifically, the possibility of certification at the time of sale or periodic technical inspection during operation was discussed. Such control could cover checking the braking system, tire condition, lighting devices, frame, and batteries.

The advisability of establishing a minimum age for operating electric scooters on public roads is also being discussed — for example, 14 or 16 years old, as is already provided for certain categories of road users.

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