Police demand ban on super-fast electric scooters

Police in Sweden are demanding an end to the sale of excessively fast electric scooters, citing growing safety concerns and the open availability of illegal models online.

Inspector Fredrik Rönnlund of Södra Roslagen police highlighted the issue after observing a young rider on a scooter that clearly exceeded the 20 km/h legal limit. The rider, not wearing a helmet, sped away from police, illustrating a common problem Rönnlund encounters.

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He took off like a rocket. We can't see him anymore.

"He took off like a rocket. We can't see him anymore," Rönnlund reported, emphasizing the difficulty police face in apprehending these riders. Current regulations stipulate that electric scooters must not exceed 20 km/h and have a maximum motor power of 250 watts to be legally used on public roads.

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I think it's very bad that it's so easy to get hold of this at all, whether you buy online or in a store.

However, Rönnlund noted that many scooters sold online, some reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h, are advertised with instructions on how to remove speed limiters. He expressed strong disapproval of the easy access to such devices, stating, "I think it's very bad that it's so easy to get hold of this at all, whether you buy online or in a store."

The inspector described a concerning trend where youths form social media groups, requiring participants to own scooters capable of at least 50 km/h. These groups then meet and ride together, creating significant hazards on sidewalks and pedestrian paths. Police are hesitant to pursue these scooters due to the high risk of accidents, which could lead to severe injury or death for the rider.

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They ride on sidewalks, on footpaths and have no real control. It goes fast and they ride very close to people.