Hungary Nears Decision on Electric Scooter Regulations

Hungary is moving closer to establishing clear regulations for electric scooter usage, with officials aiming to introduce the new rules as early as the beginning of summer. The proposed legislation seeks to curb the problem of "recklessly speeding" scooter riders and enhance safety on public roads.

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I would urge that the regulation appear even at the beginning of the summer, because then we would have a summer to test whether these rules are being followed and taken seriously.

Attila Pető, a key figure in the regulatory process, stated that societal consultations with various lobby groups have already taken place. The next step involves consolidating the opinions expressed and formalizing them into legal frameworks. Pető expressed a desire for the regulations to be published by early summer, allowing for a testing period during the summer months to assess compliance and effectiveness.

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Many are afraid that scooter riders will continue to ride irregularly, whether there is a rule or not.

Concerns remain that some riders may continue to disregard rules, regardless of their existence. However, experts like Pető emphasize the necessity of immediate regulation and testing. This approach would allow for adjustments to be made before a broader update of the KRESZ (Hungarian Highway Code) is undertaken, potentially in 2027. The proposed rules could cover aspects such as who is permitted to ride, whether helmets are mandatory, speed limits, and where scooters are allowed to operate. The expectation is that clearer legal boundaries, coupled with the possibility of police intervention and penalties for accidents, will prompt riders to act more responsibly.

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The problem currently is that the KRESZ does not regulate scooters, so they think if there is no regulation, they can do whatever they want.