Serbia Tightens Electric Scooter Rules Amid Rising Accidents

Electric scooters are increasingly common on Serbian roads, but many riders, particularly children under 14, are not following safety regulations. The Serbian Road Safety Agency reports that only one in four riders wears a helmet, despite it reducing head injury risk by 44%. Furthermore, only about 2.2% of riders adhere to all prescribed rules.

To address the growing number of accidents and injuries, especially among minors, authorities are reiterating the legal requirements for electric scooter operation. The law mandates that all electric scooters must be registered and display a sticker issued by the agency. Riders must be at least 14 years old. While scooters are permitted on bike paths, speeds are capped at 10 km/h. If no dedicated path exists, scooters can use the road where the speed limit is 30 km/h, or 50 km/h for riders over 18.

When riding on the road, scooter users must stay to the right, using no more than one meter of the roadway. They are prohibited from riding on pedestrian crossings and must dismount and walk their scooters across. Mandatory safety equipment includes a reflective vest when riding on the road, and at night or in low visibility conditions, even on bike paths. Helmets are also required. Only one person is allowed per scooter, and riders must maintain control with both hands on the handlebars, avoiding distractions like headphones or holding onto other vehicles.

Failure to comply with these regulations carries significant penalties. Fines of 10,000 dinars (approximately $92 USD) can be issued for offenses such as riding without the required registration sticker, not wearing a helmet, neglecting the reflective vest when mandated, or carrying a passenger. These measures aim to improve safety and reduce the incidence of scooter-related accidents.