The Ministry of Transport presents this Wednesday a series of measures to regulate the use of electric scooters on public roads in France. A minimum age of 12 to 14 years could be applied for young people. What does the government plan provide? We take stock.
This Wednesday, March 29, 2023, the Minister Delegate for Transport Clément Beaune receives players in the electric scooter market to present to them the national action plan, which aims to regulate the use of these motorized personal transport devices (EDPM) on public roads. Several measures are included in it to strengthen the existing regulatory framework. Asked by 20 minutesthe Minister defended his project: “Self-service scooters are available in more than 200 cities in France and used daily by 100,000 peoplea figure in constant progression, we had to strengthen the regulation of these machines.” “This plan will improve the safety of users and other usersto ensure a better integration in the public space as well as to reinforce the environmental performances of these mobilities”, says the Minister in his press release. Among the points that have been decided, it is a question of setting up a minimum age for young usersand D’increase the amount of almonds in case of non-compliance with the rules.
What will be the minimum age to use an electric scooter in public spaces?
The plan of the Ministry of Transport provides for a age of use ranging from 12 years minimum to 14 years “to protect the youngest”. This means that teenagers will have to be at least 12 years old to ride an electric scooter on public roads, whether for a personal machine or for a machine rented from an operator.
How much will the fines be?
THE fines for violations have also been revised upwards. They will go from 35 euros to 135 euros. Among the offenses that can be sanctioned are:
- Driving on a lane prohibited to EDPMs
- Transporting another user on an electric scooter
- Pushing, pulling or towing an object with an electric scooter
- Unleash the machine
- Do not wear vest or retro-reflective equipment when night or day visibility is insufficient
What are the other measures in the government’s plan?
In addition to these two main measures, the ministry wishes create a National Micromobility Observatory whose mission will be to provide knowledge on the use of these machines, “their accidentology and their impact on the environment”. The government also intends launch an awareness campaign on the traffic rules for electric scooters, and have the operators sign a commitment charge installed in the various cities of France.