New rules for electric scooters on Spain's roads. Electric scooters frequently take to the pavements, zipping past pedestrians at high speed. In 2018, there were 300 accidents caused by personal mobility vehicles in Spain (e-scooters, Segways, mobility scooters), five of them fatal.
These new rules introduced today by Spain’s national traffic authority (DGT) apply to all electric scooters in use across the country.
- Personal mobility vehicles such as electric scooters are now considered as vehicles across Spain and their 'drivers' are obliged to comply with national traffic laws in the same way as drivers of cars or motorbikes. Vehicles for people with reduced mobility are NOT included in this group.
- Electric Scooters can no longer be used on pavements. Neither can they be used on intercity roads, motorways, highways, bypasses or city tunnels.
- Only one person is allowed on a scooter at any one time.
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- The use of earphones whilst on a scooter is prohibited. Riders can also be fined for using their mobile phone or driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. These distractions are the most common causes of fatal accidents involving e-scooters or similar in Spain.
- The maximum speed for all roads is set at 25 km/h. A decision to drop the speed limit for all vehicles on two-way streets in cities from 50 to 30km/h will make it safer for e-scooters to be on the road as well.
- E-scooter owners must have a circulation certificate provided by the manufacturer.
- At night, E-scooter riders must have white lights at the front and red lights at the back of their scooter, like cyclists.
- Riders are advised to wear a reflective vest and take out insurance, although this isn’t mandatory. At present helmet usage is not obligatory.
Source: Think Spain
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