New requirements for electric scooter drivers to come into force in 2024

Press release, 8 June 2023 

 

The Seimas has adopted amendments to the Law on Road Traffic Safety that introduce new requirements and bans on electric micromobility vehicles starting from next year.

 

Under the adopted amendments, electric micromobility vehicles are defined as single-user electric motor vehicles with a peak power output under 1 kW, a maximum design speed under 25 km/h and a seat reference point, if any, under 540 mm. Electric micromobility vehicles include electric scooters, electric skateboards, self-balancing unicycles, Segways, etc. Wheelchairs for disabled persons are not classified as electric micromobility vehicles.

 

After a lengthy debate, the Seimas reached a consensus on allowing for the use of sidewalks for bicycles, motor bicycles and electric micromobility vehicles, with the exception of the segments of the sidewalk determined by the municipal council or persons authorised thereby. As a result, according to the drafters of the proposal, municipal councils will avoid a heavy administrative and financial burden: instead of signposting all sidewalks and streets open for driving electric micromobility vehicles, only those places where traffic will be banned will have to be marked. This is especially relevant for smaller municipalities with low intensity traffic on sidewalks and with no need to impose an obligation on bicycles, motor bikes and electric micromobility vehicles to keep to driving exclusively on the streets.

 

Roadways, bicycle lanes, bicycle paths, and roadsides will be open for electric micromobility vehicles. The use of electric mobility vehicles in residential areas will be open for persons aged 16 and over, while for persons aged at least 14 completion of a training course and issue of a certificate by the training school will be obligatory for driving in residential areas. No age limits will apply to persons operating electric micromobility vehicles in the yards of residential buildings. However, persons under the age of 10 will have to be supervised by an adult.

 

While driving on the roadway, users of electric micromobility vehicles will have to wear a bright-coloured reflective vest. Alternatively, the requirement for lighting a white light lamp installed at the front and a red light at the rear will apply.

 

For driving on the road in darkness or under poor visibility conditions, an obligation of having a white light in front and a red light at the rear will apply to electric mobility vehicles and the requirement to wear a bright coloured reflective vest will apply to their users.

 

Electric micromobility vehicle users aged under 18 will have to wear a cycling, skateboarding or motorcycling helmet for driving on the road. The same requirement will apply to electric mobility vehicle users over 18 for driving on the roadway.

 

Should a section of a pedestrian or cycling path or the sidewalk intended for bicycle traffic be marked off by marking signs, electric micromobility vehicle users will be required to use exclusively this marked off section and drive as close to its right edge as possible.

 

Under the adopted amendments, electric micromobility vehicle users will be prohibited from driving on the roadway if there are bicycle paths installed. They will also be banned from using pedestrian paths, pedestrian crossings, and motorways highways; carrying passengers, and crossing the road in places not intended for crossing. In addition, electric micromobility vehicle users will be banned from carrying, towing or pushing cargo that impedes driving or endangers other road users. They will be banned from their vehicles being towed, towing other vehicles, using an electric micromobility vehicle while holding on to on another vehicle, driving without holding the handlebars with at least one hand, and driving at speeds above 20 km/h. A ban will also apply to overtaking a pedestrian at speeds above 7 km/h on pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes. In addition, the Seimas granted municipal councils the right to restrict the parking of electrical micromobility vehicles in certain locations.

 

The amendments to the Law on Road Traffic Safety have been adopted by 74 votes in favour, with 3 votes against and 30 abstentions.

 

The Seimas has also adopted amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences to ensure that non-compliance with the above rules result in fines ranging between EUR 20 and EUR 40 for users of electric micromobility vehicles and fines ranging from EUR 80 to EUR 200 for drunk driving of electric micromobility vehicles.

 

Rimas Rudaitis, Adviser, Press Office, Department of Information and Communication, tel. (+370 5) 239 6132, e-mail [email protected]