Due to the increase in traffic accidents, rules for electric scooters are changing: driving will be allowed from 16 years old

In Ukraine, it is proposed to comprehensively regulate the rules for the use of electric scooters, unicycles, electric bicycles, segways, hoverboards, and other small electric transport. This concerns draft law No. 15284 "On the peculiarities of using small electric transport in Ukraine," the necessity of which is explained by the increase in the number of traffic accidents involving such transport.

Currently, there is no special law that fully regulates the use of small electric transport as a separate category. Legal regulation of this area is carried out fragmentarily — through general traffic legislation, Traffic Rules, and separate laws that only partially define the legal status of such vehicles but do not contain detailed rules for their operation.

What is proposed to change

The draft law defines small electric transport as one-, two-, or three-wheeled mechanical vehicles powered by an electric motor (electric scooters, unicycles, electric bicycles, segways, hoverboards, gyroscooters, etc.).

According to the draft law, movement on small electric transport is allowed on specially equipped bike lanes, as well as on the rightmost part of pedestrian zones, sidewalks, and recreation areas where pedestrians move, with mandatory yielding to pedestrians. On motor roads, movement is allowed exclusively on specially equipped bike lanes, while driving onto the roadway in the absence of such infrastructure and leaving the bike lane is prohibited.

The speed of small electric transport is set depending on the place of movement and cannot exceed:

• 50 kilometers per hour — when moving on specially equipped bike lanes that are part of the roadway of a motor road, as well as on bike lanes that do not border pedestrian zones, sidewalks, and recreation areas where pedestrians move;
• 10 kilometers per hour — when moving on bike lanes that are not part of the roadway of a motor road and border pedestrian zones, sidewalks, and recreation areas where pedestrians move;
• 10 kilometers per hour — when moving on the rightmost part of pedestrian zones, sidewalks, and recreation areas where pedestrians move, as far right as possible along such objects.

Users of small electric transport are prohibited from operating it while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicants or under the influence of medications that reduce attention and reaction speed.

Among the innovations, the draft law strengthens requirements for companies renting out electric scooters and other small electric transport, which must technically limit their speed depending on the place of movement. In particular, it is proposed to limit the speed of movement:

• in places where there are pedestrians (sidewalks, parks, pedestrian zones, bike lanes near them) — the scooter will not be able to go faster than 15 km/h;
• on more "open" bike lanes without pedestrians nearby — the speed can be higher but not more than 55 km/h.

It is reminded that it is also proposed to supplement the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses with a new article 126-1 "Violation of requirements regarding the use of small electric transport," as well as to amend article 127 of the Code. For the first violation, a fine of 1700 UAH is provided. For repeated violation — a fine of 3400 UAH with confiscation of the electric transport vehicle. For the third and each subsequent violation — a fine of 17,000 UAH and corrective labor.

Earlier, the "Judicial and Legal Newspaper" raised the issue of introducing a technical control system for electric scooters, similar to cars, amid the increase in the number of traffic accidents involving electric scooters, in particular through certification during sale or periodic technical inspection during operation. In the case of cars, such mechanisms allow checking the safety of the vehicle before entering the market, as well as controlling its technical condition during use. However, for electric scooters, a similar system is absent: during sale, they may meet basic technical requirements, but further mandatory control of their condition is not provided.

At the same time, the main risks arise precisely during operation — due to wear of parts or possible interference with the design. If elements of technical control for such transport were introduced, basic safety parameters could be checked, including brake functionality, tire condition, operation of lighting devices, frame integrity, and battery condition.

In addition, in the context of increasing safety, the issue of establishing a minimum age for driving electric scooters on public roads was raised — for example, 14 or 16 years, as is already provided for certain categories of road users.

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