RIGA - Amendments that are being planned to Latvia's road traffic regulations will include a mandatory registration of electric scooters, compulsory driver's licenses and helmets as well as a minimum age of 14 years as requirements for riding a scooter, Transport Minister Janis Vitenbergs (National Alliance) told journalists Tuesday.
The minister said that in recent years electric scooters have become increasingly popular as a transport vehicle, while technology development the change of people's habits are so fast that the regulation and control cannot keep up.
According to Vitenbergs, the Saeima is in the process of reviewing draft amendments to the Road Traffic Law and that their adoption could be completed by the Midsummer festival. The government is expected alight road traffic rules with the amended law by the end of the summer. The transport minister hopes that the stricter rules for electric scooters might come into effect already this season.
The aim of the amendments is to strengthen the control of the use of electric scooters, by allowing not only the State Police but also the municipal police to control the riders of electric scooters. They also provides for significantly increased penalties for drink-driving and using smart devices while driving.
The amended traffic rules will also require the users of electric scooters to wear compulsory helmets.
According to the draft regulation, local governments will be authorized to designate special areas for parking electric scooters. Also, the rules will require mandatory registration and number plates for scooters. To ride an electric scooter, the person will have to be at least 14 years old and have a driver's license for bicycle or moped.
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