Insurer: Low-power vehicles are one of the most common causes of accidents among young people – in Latvia

In recent years, urban mobility and the availability of vehicles have become particularly diverse. In addition to the demand for scooters, electric scooters and electric balance boards, the number of road accidents involving these vehicles is also increasing. The number of accidents involving young people at the wheel of electric and low-volume vehicles has increased over the past year, so parents are called upon to be responsible and to assess safety risks.

Adolescent processes, which begin at the age of 10-11 and continue until adulthood, are a challenging time for parents. One of the young people’s greatest interests today is low-power vehicles – electric scooters, scooters and scooters. This summer’s statistics show that there have been serious injuries while driving these vehicles, from minimal injuries to serious fractures. Some of the injured are young people who have lost control and been injured as a result of reckless or careless driving.

Electric scooters

Electric vehicles fall into two categories, with a power limit of up to 25 and up to 45 km / h. The most powerful, also called light motorcycles and mopeds, must be registered with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate and must be at least 14 years old and have the right to drive mopeds in order to drive it. In contrast, electric scooters located in urban areas with a maximum speed not exceeding 25 km / h qualify as sports and leisure equipment, but there are no specific rules for their use.

Anyone can get on the wheel of an electric scooter, regardless of age, knowledge and experience. This is why young people are increasingly being seen behind the wheel, trying themselves out as road users and drivers without even knowing the main driving rules. You can ride an electric scooter both on the sidewalk and on a bicycle, which is often on the same level as cars. In this way, young drivers endanger not only themselves but also other road users.

The national police report that electric scooters are not controlled in everyday traffic, as there is still no regulation governing their use. Where vehicles should travel – on the road, on sidewalks, on cycle lanes, and what are the rules – speed, road signs, age of the driver – these nuances are currently under consideration and not yet set by law, but for example a company renting these vehicles is responsible for drawing up its own internal rules of use. Although electric scooters for rent in urban areas are most often subject to internal regulations, the State Police does not have the power to monitor these regulations. In the absence of regulations, the State Police is entitled to impose penalties only for drunk driving and traffic rules such as failing to stop at a red light, not giving way to pedestrians and the like, but not for the most important – reckless and careless driving style.

Scooters

The biggest risk when driving a scooter is explained by the recklessness of young people, namely – driving with technically damaged and unsafe scooters, without lights and important body parts.

‘The scooter must be equipped in accordance with the Road Safety Regulations – it must be registered with the Road Safety Directorate and must have a number, turn signals and mirrors. Another condition that is not always met, but is one of the most important – the scooter driver must wear a head helmet during the ride. This condition is also often ignored, but many do not think that the helmet is one of the main protective elements, ”reminds Gjesidige Latvija, Head of Personal Insurance Products.

Another reckless trend that many new scooter drivers have is to perform tricks in forbidden places and conditions. Often young people perform reckless tricks in road traffic – ride on one wheel, make jumps, aggressive turns, etc. Therefore, Gjensidige Latvia reminds – such actions endanger not only the scooter drivers themselves, but also other road users.

Balancing electric scooters and boards

Another popular means of transportation among young people is self-balancing scooters and boards. These vehicles do not exceed the speed limit of 12 km / h, but are only stable on flat roads. There is no age limit for their use, so they are accessible to even the youngest road users and are particularly dangerous due to their instability.

“Many of those who ride self-balancing scooters or boards are unlikely to use them on a daily basis. Its driver is not as competent in critical road situations as, for example, a cyclist. Almost every cyclist knows what to do if an obstacle arises because he has traveled hundreds of kilometers in the past. On the other hand, the driver of a self-balancing scooter, seeing the obstacle, is confused and cannot immediately understand how to act correctly to avoid it. Lack of confidence, ignorance of road traffic rules and a combination of unexpected road obstacles are the most common causes of road accidents when driving this vehicle, ”explains K. Eberhard.

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