Lithuania to tighten electric scooter rules amid rising injuries

Lithuania is tightening regulations on electric scooters as a surge in injuries, especially among minors, prompts government action. Transport Minister Juras Taminskas highlighted the growing concern over electric scooter users, noting that more than half of those injured this year are underage.

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We are reviewing age requirements and mandatory registration for various micro-mobility devices and strengthening control.

"We are reviewing age requirements and mandatory registration for various micro-mobility devices and strengthening control," Taminskas stated. This comes as overall road fatalities have decreased in the first seven months of the year, but injuries have slightly increased. The most alarming trend is a 65% jump in injured electric scooter riders, from 77 last year to 127 this year.

The government is also focusing on infrastructure improvements, having already repaired 80 unsafe pedestrian crossings and planning to address over 100 more by year-end. Efforts are underway to identify and fix dangerous road sections prone to accidents caused by fallen trees or other obstacles, especially after a recent storm highlighted these vulnerabilities.

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People's safety on the roads must remain a priority. Especially now, when students return to school from September, each of us must ask ourselves what more we can do to avoid tragic accidents and protect each other's health and lives.

While the number of road deaths has fallen by 16% compared to last year, the rise in scooter-related injuries underscores a new challenge for road safety officials. The primary causes of severe accidents remain unchanged: failure to yield, speeding, driving in the oncoming lane, and improper overtaking.

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Road safety depends not only on the behavior of road users themselves but also on safe infrastructure.