SCOOTERS - CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT - PREFERS A GERMAN MODEL THAT PROVIDES FOR SIGNAGE AND INCREASE IN AGE FROM 14 TO 16 - Filenews 27/2 by Ioanna Kyriakou
The Ministry of Transport presented specific suggestions in order to put a brake on the reckless and dangerous use of personal mobility devices (electric scooters and bicycles) in Parliament, preferring the model followed by Germany and providing for the introduction of signage on scooters. In this way, the ministry is trying to avoid the creation of a register for the registration of personal mobility devices, as provided for in the law proposal of Stavros Papadouris, in order to bypass the additional costs and time-consuming procedures.
In particular, speaking before the Committee, the senior official of the Ministry of Transport, Aphrodite Kofteros, stated that there is no single European approach to the problems arising from scooters, but each country proceeds with its own system and regulations.
After the completion of the ministry's consultation with the stakeholders, the recommendations are as follows:
- Increase the age of people entitled to use these devices from the current 14 years to 16 years
- Retention of devices when illegalities and specific offenses are recorded such as: use in an unforeseen area, non-compliance with the specifications provided by law, when users are people younger than the permitted age and when users do not wear a protective helmet
- Strengthening the framework of specifications, on the basis of a European standard to be incorporated into legislation
- Reduction of the maximum speed to 20 to 25 km/h
On the issue of insurance coverage, Ms. Kofterou said that the competent ministry studied the measures taken by other countries and came up with a recommendation taking into account, primarily, what is being implemented in Germany. The proposal concerns the issuance of a marking by insurance companies, if and when the device complies with the provisions of the law, which will identify the person who is insured with the scooter. The specifications that this marking will have – such as the colour – will be issued every year by decrees of the Minister of Transport. The marking will be issued with specific specifications so that it cannot be counterfeited or copied, Ms. Kofterou stressed. With this regulation, the Police will be able to easily determine whether a device complies with the law.
The above proposal has been forwarded for study to the Association of Insurance Companies, whose position is that with the existing legislative framework there can be no insurance coverage. However, a representative of the Association stated that in the context of the consultation with the ministry, there is a proposal for a specific type of insurance coverage. This is the user's liability insurance with coverage limits of up to €100,000. In order for this insurance standard to be implemented, he argued, four issues must be resolved: the issue of infrastructure, registration, identification, while a certificate is considered necessary to certify the characteristics by the supplier.
However, based on what they told the Committee, MPs want electric scooters to be registered and insured, while the main problem observed is their movement areas and inappropriate infrastructure on the road network. It is worth noting that all stakeholders spoke out against the total ban on scooters, emphasizing the need to adopt additional safeguards that will end uncontrolled use and, at the same time, promote sustainable urban mobility.
What does the current legislation provide for today?
According to the legislation, electric scooters are allowed to move on roads where the speed limit for motor vehicles does not exceed 30 kilometers per hour. At the same time, they can be used in bicycle lanes, as well as in areas that are an extension of bicycle paths, in which cyclists and pedestrians coexist. Their circulation in squares or pedestrian streets is allowed only after a decision or approval of the competent municipality or community.
Regarding the age of the users, the legislation provides that the use of an electric scooter is allowed to people aged 14 years and above. Particular emphasis is also placed on personal protective measures, as the use of a helmet is mandatory for everyone, while during night traffic the use of a fluorescent vest is also required for better visibility.
In terms of equipment, each device must have the necessary safety equipment, such as a brake operating system, front and rear lights, a bell and appropriate tires. Finally, electric scooters that circulate legally must, by design, not reach a speed of more than 20 kilometers per hour, in order to limit the risk of accidents in the urban environment.
Despite the above measures, from 2019 to 2025, 7,575 complaints were submitted. According to a previous report by "F", most of the complaints concerned the following offenses:
>> 3,061 for driving in an unauthorized traffic area.
>> 2,215 for driving without wearing a protective helmet.
>> 935 did not carry proper fluorescent insignia.
>> 510 drivers were moving outside their designated lane.
>> 296 were driving without taking care to have a light running.
The same report points out that from 2019 until today, three deaths were recorded, while from 2021 to 2025, 13 seriously injured and 12 slightly injured were recorded.
