The age of e-scooter riders is difficult to monitor – the company hopes parents will check their credit card statements. Photo: Mikko Stig / Lehtikuva
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Finland has approved new legislation introducing a minimum age of 15 for e-scooter riders and applying a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.5 g/l, aligning the rules more closely with those for motorists and moped users.
The Finnish Parliament passed the government’s proposal on Tuesday. The changes respond to growing safety concerns, particularly involving underage riders and alcohol-related accidents.
The new age restriction follows a recommendation from the Road Safety Council and mirrors the minimum age for riding mopeds. The Council noted that handling an e-scooter in traffic requires similar awareness and knowledge of road regulations.
The law change comes after several serious incidents involving children. A report by Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) found that over a five-year period, more than 600 children, mostly aged 12 to 13, were injured in e-scooter accidents.
Intoxicated riding has also become a significant safety issue. A previous HUS study found that around half of all e-scooter accidents in Helsinki involved a rider under the influence of alcohol. The new alcohol limit for e-scooter users will match the 0.5 g/l legal limit already in place for car drivers.
Transport Minister Lulu Ranne said earlier this month that the age restriction would be enforced before Midsummer.
The government will also add a helmet recommendation to the legislation. While not mandatory, helmets will now be advised for all e-scooter users. The recommendation already applies to cyclists and will be extended to include other light electric vehicles, including mobility scooters used by elderly or disabled people.
The revised laws will come into force as soon as the legislative process is completed.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
