FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE INCREASE IN THE AGE LIMIT FOR THE USE OF SCOOTERS, THE ACCIDENT WITH A 13 YEAR OLD - WHAT LIMITS DOES THE PROPOSED LAW SET IN PARLIAMENT ON APRIL 16 - Filenews 14/4 by Vassos Vassiliou
It is more imperative than ever to regulate the use of scooters after the serious accident with a 13-year-old, which tragically happened four days before the expected approval by the plenary session of the Parliament of a bill through which the use of these devices will be allowed from 17 years of age and over.
The item is on the agenda of the Parliament at the last session of the House on April 16.
The accident may have caught up with the Parliament, but it demonstrates the need to set limits and implement them, in order to prevent any more unpleasant incidents. The relevant proposal, which increases the age limit for users, was submitted by DISY MPs Dimitris Dimitriou and Fotini Tsiridou.
A proposal for a law that provided for an increase in the age limit to 16 years had also been submitted by the MP of the Ecologists, Mr. Stavros Papadouris, and although the Ministry of Transport agrees with him, it seems that approval at 17 is preferred, on the grounds that at this age one is entitled to secure a student driving license.
As it emerged from the discussion of the issue, which Filenews presented under the title "Half-jobs with scooters and electric bicycles in Parliament - The age limit is increased but the risks remain", dealers sell scooters to teenagers of all ages and when there is a "capricious" person who asks the age, in some cases parents intervene and the issue is regulated. During the debate, MPs pointed out the inconsistency that prevails, that is, allowing the sale of scooters to minors and prohibiting their use by them.
The reference to "half-jobs" concerned the emerging trend of legislative regulation based on which the use limit is increased to 17 but at the same time electric bicycles, some of which in practice are motorcycles under cover, are left out of the legislation.
It is noted that in her last meeting before the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Ms. Tsiridou had also indicated the following: "If we leave behind electric bicycles, they will make fun of us, given that more or less, they have the same use." If we only regulate the use of scooters, it is like telling them (those interested) to buy electric bicycles, he added. She pointed out that what is actually happening with personal mobility devices is the trade of such devices with teenagers.
He also pointed out that some electric bicycles, with the speeds they develop, are more like motorcycles than bicycles.
The law proposal (Dimitriou-Tsiridou) also provides that the transport of a person (passenger) by the user is allowed if the person in question is over 17 years old, instead of 14 years old. That is, in addition to the fact that the driver/user must be over 17 years old, the same will apply to the person who may be transported by the scooter user.
Ms. Tsiridou, citing the discussion that has already taken place and the experience of recent years (from the use of such devices), combined with contact with teenagers in recent months, but also the accidents recorded, said that it is necessary to set limits on the use of electric scooters.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Transport said that the 16-year limit is preferable because the European Transport Council also prefers 16 years, but if the Parliament considers that the limit should be set at 17, there is no objection.
He also mentioned that in some countries the use ranges between 12-16 years. It is a matter of national legislation, so there is no question of EU policy, he said.
Commenting on the issue of the use of electric bicycles, he noted that in some cases we are not really talking about electric bicycles in the sense that they develop a speed of 50-60 kilometers. Those moving at speeds above 25 kilometers are completely illegal, he said, adding: "They are anything other than electric bicycles, and they had to be withheld and withdrawn from the market."
