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🇸🇪 Sweden /Crime & Justice

Sweden Proposes Stricter Rules for Electric Scooters Amid Accident Surge

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Sweden's government is proposing stricter regulations for electric scooters due to a sharp increase in accidents.
  • The Swedish Transport Agency is tasked with developing proposals for enhanced rules, drawing inspiration from Nordic neighbors.
  • Current Swedish law classifies e-scooters as bicycles, lacking age and alcohol limits, unlike Denmark, Finland, and Norway.

Sweden's government is set to implement tougher regulations for electric scooters following a significant rise in related accidents. The Swedish Transport Agency has been commissioned to develop proposals for stricter rules, with a particular focus on measures adopted by neighboring Nordic countries.

In Sweden, it is obvious that the legislation has not kept up.

— Andreas CarlsonThe Infrastructure Minister commented on the need for updated laws regarding electric scooters.

Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson stated that Swedish legislation has not kept pace with the proliferation of e-scooters. Unlike Denmark, Finland, and Norway, Sweden lacks an age limit and a blood alcohol content limit for e-scooter riders, as the vehicles are classified as bicycles. This legal distinction means that drunk driving laws, which apply to e-scooters in other Nordic nations, do not directly apply in Sweden.

An important part of the Transport Agency's assignment is to look at the Nordic countries and what measures they have taken.

— Andreas CarlsonCarlson explained the approach to developing new regulations for e-scooters.

Accidents involving e-scooters in Sweden surged by 38 percent between 2024 and 2025. Carlson emphasized the need for sharp, effective measures to address this "dismal accident statistics." He noted that while Sweden has some existing rules, such as a 20 km/h speed limit, prohibitions on sidewalk riding and carrying passengers, and a helmet requirement for children under 15, enforcement remains a challenge.

In Sweden, it is obvious that the legislation has not kept up and that is why the Transport Agency is now being given a very concrete assignment to develop measures that are sharp and can meet this dismal accident statistics.

— Andreas CarlsonThe minister elaborated on the urgency of addressing the rising e-scooter accident rates.

The government is considering measures to make it harder to sell e-scooters capable of exceeding the speed limit and is examining the possibility of a general helmet requirement, similar to Denmark's rule for all riders. The Transport Agency's assignment runs until 2028, but Carlson anticipates that some proposed regulatory changes could be introduced as early as next year.

Against the background that accidents have now skyrocketed, it is reasonable to develop separate and sharper legislation linked to electric scooters.

— Andreas CarlsonCarlson justified the need for distinct regulations for e-scooters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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