Rules and Regulations for Using E-Scooters: What You Need to Know

mountain country. The safe way to school is usually practiced by parents with the freshly baked i-Dötzchen, so that the first graders get to school and back safely. When it is time to switch to the fifth grade of secondary school, the ten-year-olds often have to cross town – on foot, by bike or by bus.

“Even if parents believe their children have already gained a lot of experience in road traffic, it is still a new challenge,” explains Katrin Grastat from the police traffic accident prevention department. Here, too, parents should first take the best route with their children or cycle or take the bus and point out specific danger points.

E-scooters are becoming increasingly popular with older young people – even more so in the leisure sector than for going to school. When using it, however, there are a few important rules to follow so that there are no nasty surprises at the end.

Rental scooters may only be used from the age of 18

What many do not know is the question of when you can use these e-scooters, explains Katrin Grastat. Basically, you can drive the motorized scooters from the age of 14. “But that only applies to private scooters. The rented scooters may only be borrowed and driven from the age of 18,” the traffic expert points out an important difference. “Otherwise, the insurance for e-scooters doesn’t apply to younger users.” In the cityscape, she often sees two people riding the scooter at the same time. This is also not allowed and jeopardizes insurance cover in the event of an accident. “Of course, if we see a double pack on the scooter, we always point it out,” Grastat relies on the common sense of the users.

E-scooter insurance does not apply to younger users.

The e-scooter can be driven on cycle paths, if they are not available, the road must be used. The route can also be driven on. “Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the sidewalks.” Pedestrians always have priority on shared footpaths and cycle paths.

Grastat also recommends wearing a helmet, as the e-scooters can travel at speeds of up to 20 km/h. As with the bike, this is not mandatory. You don’t even have to have a driver’s license. If you rent a scooter for the first time, you should not take it out onto the street straight away, but first practice on a safe area, such as a private yard. It is important to get a feel for how the brakes react, for example.

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Alcohol limit also applies to e-scooter drivers

Especially those who want to use an e-scooter to get home after a party should think about the alcohol limit. For electric scooters, this is identical to the value that also applies to drivers. Anyone who drives with 0.5 to 1.09 per thousand and shows no alcohol-related abnormalities commits an administrative offense and receives a fine. As a rule, this is 500 euros, a month’s driving ban and two points in Flensburg.

It is a criminal offense if the driver is driving the scooter with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 1.1 per thousand or shows symptoms of failure, then even from 0.3 per thousand. For drivers under the age of 21 and new drivers, the blood alcohol level is 0.0. There is currently only one fixed blood alcohol limit for cyclists: 1.6 per mille blood alcohol concentration is the limit for absolute unfitness to drive a bicycle. Cyclists who have reached this value are penalized for drunk driving – and then lose their driver’s license.