Police warn of dangerous scooters. What are the rules for riding a scooter?

Once a segway, electric scooters are gaining in popularity today. There are more and more of them in the streets every day, and with them the frustration of other road users or accidents. As this is a relatively new type of means of transport, many are unaware of the rules for their use in road traffic. The Police of the Slovak Republic drew attention to one of them on its Facebook page.

Specifically, the police pointed out that only one person is allowed to ride a scooter at a time. This rule is violated by users of shared scooters. When riding a scooter, whether electric or not, other rules apply. Do you know what?

Electric scooters and rules for their use in road traffic

Do you have to wear protective equipment when riding a scooter? And what about driving under the influence of alcohol? An overview of currently valid laws was provided by the Autonoviny portal.

Age limit

There is no age limit for classic scooters, but for electric scooters you can only go with them if you are over 15 years old. In the Road Traffic Act no. 8/2009, however, mentions the age limit only for driving on the road, which means that children under the age of 15 can also use the electric scooter along the sidewalk and cycle path.

Does the scooter belong on the sidewalk or on the road?

This point will not please frustrated pedestrians. Scooters can ride on the sidewalk, even electric ones. However, only at such a speed that they do not endanger pedestrians. Owners of electric scooters are also free to ride on cycle paths, pedestrian crossings and, from the age of 15, on the road.

When parking on the sidewalk, the same rule applies to scooters as to cyclists or motorcyclists. The scooter can park on the sidewalk if it leaves pedestrians at least one and a half meters.

Beware of driving under the influence of alcohol

Owners of regular scooters are considered pedestrians, so they can ride under the influence. However, if you plan to drive from the pub on an electric scooter, the same rules will apply to you as to cyclists. You can inflate up to 0.5 per mille (0.24 mg / l) in the built-up area of ​​the village and on the cycle path. Outside these zones, not a drop of blood alcohol is tolerated by scooters.

As for fines, you will have to pay 20 euros for 1 per mille (0.48 mg / l). If the police officer tells you more during the check-up, you will be further considered as a driver who drove under the influence of alcohol.

Do I have to wear protective equipment on my scooter?

In short, no, you don’t have to. This applies to all protective equipment, including helmets and protectors. Even children do not have such an obligation.