Electric scooters entered our lives as one of the most convenient micro-mobility solutions in cities. They are easy to use, fast, convenient, and produce zero emissions without noise.
However, their uncontrolled use, especially by minors, has led to proposals for new measures—such as those adopted in other European countries—like mandatory insurance, and even a ban, as was considered in Thessaloniki, pending changes to their use—and the heavy fines, even criminal penalties for violations that are now… everyday occurrences—that the new Road Traffic Code anticipates…
The Victims
These days, a 12-year-old is fighting for his life in the ICU of the “Aglaia Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, after being hit by a car on Mesogeion Avenue, in Holargos. Less than a month ago, in Nea Smyrni, another shocking accident occurred, where a 15-year-old was run over by a tram—only escaping with injuries. Regardless of the circumstances of the accidents, they have been added to the ever-expanding list of scooter accidents, which happen almost daily and in various ways, with different causes and victims.
From a six-year-old who was hit by a scooter rider to a 40-year-old who fell into a garbage bin with his scooter during waste collection in Thessaloniki, to a 21-year-old and a 15-year-old who collided with a passing car while riding their scooters “double”.
The Crackdown
With the new Road Traffic Code in our country clearly outlining how electric scooters should be used, the “response” of the Traffic Police is targeted inspections in the major cities, resulting in impressive findings about the chaos that prevails.
In the latest “raid” in Thessaloniki, 248 violations were recorded over ten days for not wearing helmets and reflective vests, using mobile phones, carrying passengers(!), and even more infuriating, riding scooters under the influence of alcohol, and riding at night without lights.
These findings are hardly a… surprise to the men and women of the Traffic Police, as in the more than 2,500 violations they documented in the first five months of this year and the numerous complaints they have received from citizens, they have seen and heard it all: scooters weaving at 120 km/h on central roads in Athens, minors taking scooters out on major streets like Syggrou for… races (who can get to the coast faster!), organizing illegal “races” on pedestrian streets, riding two or three on electric scooters, reaching excessive speeds on sidewalks, running red lights, and even scooter riders moving on the national highway in the early hours without lights, and scooters abandoned in streams.
The Burning Issue
Thessaloniki is the latest city in Greece to consider, about a month ago, even banning scooter use. The city’s municipal authorities reached their breaking point with the growing number of complaints from citizens about the antisocial way many people use electric scooters, both rental and private.
For rental scooters, complaints focused on the occupation of public spaces (where users literally discarded them once they were no longer needed), such as wheelchair ramps, as well as the fact that two were found abandoned in the YFANET stream in Kato Toumba by the volunteer group “The Cleaningans.” For private scooters, as noted by the Deputy Mayor for Municipal Police, Communities, and Neighborhoods, Konstantinos Tsapakidis, the discovery that most are “tampered with” to go faster led him to call for compliance with speed limits outlined in the Road Traffic Code.
The municipal government decided to create regulations regarding the proper use of scooters and begin consultations with the rental companies of these micro-mobility vehicles. At the same time, with an inspection safari on the streets and sidewalks, the thought was whether a solution could be found, either by implementing a scooter usage fee by the municipality or banning their movement in the city.
The companies, in their consultation with the municipality, showed their willingness to ensure the basic rules are followed so that micro-mobility becomes easier, not harder, for citizens. So, they reached a “gentlemen’s agreement.”
The six companies operating in the field inform users that they must wear helmets, not carry second passengers, and comply with Road Traffic Code regulations. Therefore, there is no “excuse” for the fines issued by the Traffic Police, which continue their “raid” on users who disregard the code.
At the same time, users will be required to leave the scooters they have used in designated areas, not on sidewalks, squares, or other places, unchecked. This will likely lead to companies paying a fee for occupying (pre-agreed) public spaces where they “park” their scooters.
Madrid’s Approach
The measure of banning micro-mobility vehicles may seem extreme, but it’s not far off. A week ago, in Madrid, the deadline given by the city’s government to three electric scooter rental companies (Lime, Dott, Tier Mobility) to remove them expired. This followed a series of complaints and protests about dangerous driving and the chaos caused by users parking them wherever they pleased.
Mayor José Luis Martínez had warned the companies to set limits on how their customers drove and parked, or risk having their licenses revoked. This didn’t happen, and on October 23, the deadline for the companies to collect their approximately 2,000 scooters and e-scooters expired.
Despite the fact that private scooters remain legal in Madrid, their owners are now in the “crosshairs.” Initially, they must strictly follow Road Traffic Code and parking regulations, and soon, through an upcoming law, all electric scooter owners will be required to register them on a special platform. This will effectively make them like motorbikes (meaning violations will be easily tracked and the offender charged, for example, if they park illegally), and the ban on usage by people under 16 years old can be effectively enforced.
Madrid is not the only city taking such tough measures. Last summer, Melbourne completely banned e-scooters from its streets and sidewalks, as it was deemed impossible to curb violations of the Road Traffic Code and accidents caused by users. In other cities and countries, there are strict rules governing their use. Notably, in cities in France, Denmark, and Germany, electric scooters must be insured.
Overall, the movement of electric scooters and other micro-mobility vehicles is governed by specific regulations. For example, users are required to wear helmets and reflective vests, they are prohibited from using streets with speed limits over 50 km/h, and must not exceed 25 km/h (or 6 km/h if they are minors).
Everything Changes
The new Road Traffic Code is set to change everything, as it essentially offers incentives for the use of micro-mobility vehicles (electric scooters, rollerblades, electric skateboards, hoverboards, and electric wheelchairs for the disabled) but also imposes severe penalties for improper use. In practice, since the new Road Traffic Code lowers the speed limit to 30 km/h in urban areas, it paves the way for micro-mobility vehicles to travel on… more roads, under the same conditions as other two-wheelers (motorcycles, etc.), allowing them to operate on major streets.
On the other hand, it introduces strict penalties for not adhering to speed limits, not wearing helmets (also for micro-mobility vehicles), running red lights, driving under the influence of alcohol, and improper overtaking.
And as it personalizes penalties, meaning the vehicle will no longer be punished (as happened with license confiscation), but rather the offender, it will now be much easier and quicker to issue fines for violations committed by electric scooter riders. This also applies to minors, since all electric scooter riders—whether private or rented—must carry identification and proof of rental, something that has already led to hundreds of fines from the Traffic Police.
With the penalties being severe, with fines reaching up to €10,000 and prison sentences of up to five years, the drivers of micro-mobility vehicles also fall under the category of high-risk violations and antisocial driving.
These include running red lights, dangerous driving, excessive speed, lane violation, STOP sign violations, violations “linked to showcasing skills, impressing others, competition, or participating in impromptu races, as well as violations related to overtaking,” and driving under the influence of alcohol, which will be criminally punished, with particularly harsh penalties, even with a felony character.
In fact, the Penal Code foresees such (felony-level) penalties for these violations. It is specified that imprisonment can be up to three years if there is danger to property, at least one year for danger to a person, up to ten years’ imprisonment for serious bodily harm or significant damage to public infrastructure, and at least ten years for the death of a person. If the death of a large number of people is caused, the court may impose life imprisonment.
