In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of traffic accidents involving electric scooters. Statistics show that a third of all cases will occur in 2023, with an increase in the number of incidents involving drunk drivers.
Electric scooters and road accidents
Accident statistics
According to information provided by Opendatabot, over the past five years, approximately 130 cases related to traffic accidents involving electric scooters have been heard in the judicial system. It is noteworthy that more than a third of the total number of such incidents occurred in 2023.
As of August 2024, the Babusya court registry has registered about 111 administrative and 22 criminal cases related to accidents involving electric scooter users.
Current year trends
In the first half of 2024, 16 administrative and 3 criminal proceedings were initiated in connection with road accidents, where electric scooters participated. These figures exceed the total number of similar cases for the entire 2021.
Typical violations and penalties
Among the cases when the fault for an accident lies with the driver of the electric scooter, the most common are collisions with pedestrians or damage to other people's property. For such violations, a fine ranging from 340 to 850 hryvnia is usually imposed.
There has been an increase in the number of incidents related to driving an electric scooter while intoxicated. In one such case, the driver who hit a woman on the sidewalk had a blood alcohol level of 0.9 ppm, which is the equivalent of drinking about 250 ml of vodka. The violator was fined 17,000 hryvnia and deprived of his driver’s license.
Regulatory Issues
It is worth noting that it is not always possible to impose a penalty in the form of deprivation of rights, since many users of electric scooters may do not have a driver's license and do not know the rules of the road. For example, rental services Bolt and Jet do not require customers to have rights, limiting themselves only to verifying the age of majority.
Both companies claim to insure all trips against damage to life or property of third parties. However, if a minor was involved in an accident and indicated an incorrect age when registering, the consequences of the accident, as a rule, are not covered by insurance.
Prospects for legislative regulation
Anton Milka, head of the development of sharing services at Bolt in Ukraine, emphasizes the need to develop clear rules traffic regulations for electric scooters and establishing liability for their violation at the legislative level. The company only tracks insurance claims, which account for less than 0.001% of total trips this year, he said.
It is worth recalling that last year, electric scooter drivers were recognized as full road users. However, special rules for them have not yet been approved. Basic requirements include driving on the right side of the road, wearing helmets and reflective equipment, and prohibiting movement on pedestrian areas and sidewalks.
Glossary
- Opendatabot - Ukrainian service for monitoring registration data of Ukrainian companies and the court registry for protection from raider takeovers and control of counterparties.
- Bolt is an Estonian company that provides taxi and electric scooter rental services in several countries.
- Jet is an electric scooter rental service operating in Ukraine.
- Traffic rules - Rules of the road, a set of rules governing the responsibilities of road users.
- Road accident - A traffic accident, an event that occurred during the movement of a vehicle and resulted in harm to human life or health.
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Answers to questions
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Discussion of the topic – Record increase in accidents with electric scooters in Ukraine: drunk drivers and legal consequences
In 2023, Ukraine recorded a record increase in accidents involving electric scooters. A third of all cases over the past 5 years occurred in the past year, often involving drunk drivers. Judicial statistics show an increase in both administrative and criminal cases.
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Liam
Electric scooters are becoming a serious problem on the roads. 130 cases in 5 years, and 34% in this year alone! It looks like the situation is getting worse. 🚦
Sophie
Yes, Liam, the numbers are scary. Particularly worrying is the rise in the number of drunk scooter drivers. 0.9 ppm is unrealistically high! Control needs to be tightened. 🍺🛴
Giovanni
Sophie, I agree. But what worries me more is that many scooter riders do not know the traffic rules. Maybe we should introduce mandatory courses before renting? 🤔
Helga
Giovanni, great idea! I would also add compulsory insurance. Bolt and Jet already do this, but it needs to be extended to everyone. Safety first! 🛡️
Pierre
This is all nonsense. Scooters are just another fashionable toy. Soon they will be replaced by something even more ridiculous. In the meantime, pedestrians will suffer. Ban them and that's the end of it.
Liam
Pierre, I don’t think a ban is the answer. Scooters are convenient for short trips. You just need to properly regulate their use. Maybe limit the speed in crowded places? 🐢
Maria
I fully support Liam! It would also be possible to create special lanes for scooters, just like for cyclists. This would solve the problem with sidewalks and roads. 🛣️
Jakub
What about mandatory helmets? The article mentions it, but many ignore it. Maybe we should introduce fines for driving without a helmet? Safety must be a priority. 🪖