The Minister of Infrastructure has proposed a bill to amend the Traffic Law. Among other things, the bill includes changes to the rules for electric scooters, Vísir reports.
Enormously popular over the past few years
Last week, the Minister of Infrastructure, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, proposed a bill to amend the Traffic Law (Umferðarlög, No. 77/2019), which, among other things, will alter the rules for electric scooters.
The popularity of electric scooters has increased enormously in recent years, and with growing popularity, there has been a slew of accidents – including one fatality. If the changes are implemented, scooters may no longer be driven faster than 25 kilometres per hour. Bicycles capable of exceeding that speed would also be banned from traffic.
The bill further stipulates that drivers of electric scooters would be allowed to drive on roads where the maximum speed does not exceed 30 kilometres per hour. Rules will also be set regarding the blood alcohol content of the electric-scooter operators, as well as an age limit; children under the age of thirteen will be prohibited from riding electric scooters, and children under the age of sixteen will be required to wear a helmet.
Hope to increase traffic safety
As noted in a press release from the government’s website: “The bill proposes changes based on the recommendations of a working group on small vehicles that were presented last year. Their aim is to increase the road safety of small vehicles without standing in the way of the further development of more diverse modes of transport.”
If the amendment is enshrined in law, a general ban on altering the speed settings of electric vehicles, light mopeds, and electric bicycles will also come into effect.
