In Delaware, electric scooters are regulated in the same category as “motorized skateboards” and are not permitted on “highways, roads, or sidewalks,” according to Delaware Title 21 Ch. 41 Sc 12 Provision 4198N. This usually means that the busier the road, the more likely you are to get into trouble. Not all laws are enforced, especially in emerging legal grey areas, so you need to use your discretion and try to understand your specific local situation. The helmet must be worn by riders under 16 years of age. No matter what you do, wearing a helmet ensures your safety, and as electric scooters become more advanced with higher speeds, it`s wise to give you the best protection possible. Today, there are laws surrounding electric scooters that aim to protect people. Different states have their rules, and some are stricter than others. This section examines the various restrictions and how they apply to drivers. Following a court case, a new provision of the Road Traffic Act entered into force on 21 April 2019, according to which an electric scooter falls under the definition of a moped[55] (power up to 4 kW, maximum speed 45 km/h). Therefore, these vehicles are not allowed to travel on walking and bicycle paths. However, due to the lack of homologation, it is not possible to register an electric scooter as a road vehicle, making it illegal for use on the road.
Lawmakers are currently working on legislative changes to introduce the definition of a personal transportation device, which would allow the use of electric scooters on walking and bike paths. [56] Do I need insurance for my electric scooter? In the United States, local and federal transportation agencies do not currently require electric scooter riders to purchase insurance. Drivers are only required by law to have a valid driver`s license. The only places where you legally need electric scooter insurance are the state of Illinois in the United States and the state of Texas in the United States if the power of the electric scooter motor exceeds 750 watts. Electric scooters were legalized in Michigan under Section 257,660 and placed in the same category as electric skateboards. They can only carry one person at a time, and they can`t have a motor over 2,500W (electric scooters are typically 250 to 500W) or a maximum speed of more than 25 miles per hour. Scooters are only allowed on roads with speed limits of less than 25 miles per hour. Scooters are not allowed to pass other vehicles between lanes, and they require a white front light visible at a distance of 500 feet and a taillight visible at a distance of 600 feet. Electric scooters can be legally ridden on sidewalks in just five states: Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Rhode Island and Virginia. Iowa also removes any ambiguity by treating electric scooters like bicycles, with laws similar to Indiana`s. You can ride an electric scooter on sidewalks, bike lanes, and public roads as long as it weighs less than 100 pounds and has a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. Yes, many people are embracing electric scooters, including teenagers, hipsters, and executives, and – even better – there is a wide range of scooter models to choose from.
In the UK, from the end of 2021, private electric scooters will no longer be allowed to be used on public roads or pavements. In a trial from mid-2020 to the end of 2022, the rental scooters could be used by users with a corresponding driver`s license on the roads, but not on the sidewalks. At that time, private scooters were widespread, illegal, on trails and roads. By the end of 2021, it was evident that the use of electric scooters was primarily replacing cycling, walking, and public transportation, rather than the use of motor vehicles. Instead of a potentially beneficial shift from car to scooter, modes of transportation with better health benefits and environmental sustainability have been replaced. It has also been calculated that if scooters were not used to replace a car for everyday use in the coming years, their impact on the environment would be harmful, with high carbon dioxide emissions in the production and use of resources such as lithium and cobalt. There were also safety issues – roller accidents caused injuries that looked like motorcycles rather than rolling wheels. [32] [best source needed] Private scooters have been banned from public transport in London following a flood of battery fires. [32] Illinois was supposed to make some changes to its electric scooter laws, but the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed state implementation.
Simply put, electric scooters and bicycles are subject to the same restrictions that stipulate that people under the age of 17 must have a driver`s license. In Finland, e-scooters are subject to the same rules as bicycles[41] and there are no age restrictions. [42] However, all electric scooters with a maximum speed greater than 25 km/h are considered small motorcycles and require automobile insurance. [42] Given that electric scooters rarely fall into the category of complete motor vehicles, it is unusual for legislation to require some type of operating permit or some form of registration. However, countries and even states have their unique laws and regulations for the use of electric vehicles. Electric scooters are quickly becoming the most popular way to get through cities across the United States. They`re eco-friendly, cheaper than cars, and you don`t have to worry about squeezing between strangers on public transport. Wyoming doesn`t have specific laws on electric scooters, but the state passed a law in 2019 that grants electric bikes the same privileges as conventional bikes and defines different types of lightweight private vehicles. Wyoming NO. SF0081 has a section on scooters, but one can easily deduce that they are mopeds. The law states that electric bicycles and electric skateboards are exempt from licensing and registration. Electric scooters are regulated by this law as electric skateboards and have the same privileges granted to electric bikes.
Electric scooters in Singapore are classified as Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and, as such, are subject to the regulations of the Land Transport Authority.