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Greece to fully ban electric scooters for minors
🇬🇷 Greece /Crime & Justice

Greece to fully ban electric scooters for minors

From Ta Nea · (6m ago) Greek Critical tone

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Greece's Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrisochoidis, announced stricter regulations for electric scooters, including a ban for minors.
  • The proposed measures aim to address safety concerns and the increasing number of accidents involving e-scooters.
  • The new framework will also require mandatory insurance for e-scooters and involve municipalities in regulating parking and the number of available devices.

The Greek government is taking decisive action to curb the growing menace of electric scooters on public roads, with Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis announcing a comprehensive overhaul of existing regulations. The primary focus is on enhancing safety, particularly for vulnerable road users, and addressing the chaos that e-scooters have introduced into urban environments.

The first is a complete ban for minors. Second, if a scooter hits you today, who will compensate you? Accidents are multiplying. Mandatory insurance is needed.

— Michalis ChrisochoidisExplaining the rationale behind the new regulations for electric scooters.

Chrisochoidis highlighted the dual nature of the e-scooter issue: their environmental friendliness versus the significant safety risks they pose. "The handling of the scooter issue is peculiar and difficult. It is an environmentally friendly means, and we must find a way for them to move at a level of safety," he stated. The immediate priority is a complete ban for minors, recognizing their potential lack of judgment and experience in operating these devices.

Beyond the age restriction, the proposed legislation tackles other critical aspects. The minister pointed out the lack of accountability when accidents occur, questioning who would compensate victims. This points towards the introduction of mandatory insurance, a crucial step to ensure that those injured by e-scooters are adequately compensated. Furthermore, the current practice of scooters being abandoned haphazardly on sidewalks, obstructing pedestrian traffic, will be addressed. "This phenomenon of throwing them on sidewalks, people cannot move, hundreds of scooters on main roads, must end," Chrisochoidis asserted.

This phenomenon of throwing them on sidewalks, people cannot move, hundreds of scooters on main roads, must end.

— Michalis ChrisochoidisAddressing the issue of e-scooters obstructing public spaces.

Municipalities are also set to play a key role in enforcing the new regulations, particularly concerning parking and the overall number of e-scooters available for rent. This collaborative approach aims to create a more orderly and safer environment for everyone. The government's swift response signals a commitment to balancing technological innovation with public safety, ensuring that the benefits of e-mobility do not come at the cost of lives and well-being on Greek streets.

Municipalities must also take measures regarding parking and, if necessary, limit the number of scooters.

— Michalis ChrisochoidisHighlighting the role of local authorities in the new regulatory framework.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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