Despite the fact that the new DGT regulations for electric scooters and other Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMP) came into force last March, there are many users of electric scooters who are still unaware of the basic rules of the road and, above all, what equipment must be carried as mandatory. Thus, this is the basic equipment that every scooter user should take into account.
The standards are adapted to electric scooters
The electric scooter is one of the most popular personal mobility vehicles (VMP), being used daily by thousands of people. Surprisingly, many users are unaware that since this year scooters are subject to a new regulation that specifically regulates the technical characteristics of scooters.
This does not mean that you now have to pass the ITV to your scooter, but it does mean that you must have a series of equipment to which they are made because these scooters must carry some elements as mandatory.
Or what is the same; The new regulation has wanted to adapt to changing times, so it has been forced to cover the great demand for this type of vehicle, such as, among others, the obligation to have a circulation certificate or the maximum speed that electric scooters can reach on public roads, among other aspects.
Which are
This legal framework of 2022, in any case, gives municipalities a lot of room to create their own regulations, making it difficult to know the law. The restrictions and obligations change from city to city, but these are the basic keys to avoid violations and fines.
In this, what is observed is that article 47 obliges the drivers of a personal mobility vehicle to use an approved protective helmet. The DGT still has to approve the regulation for vulnerable users, still in the process of being drawn up.
In it, in addition, you can drive if you have drunk alcohol, or with headphones on. If you are wondering which is better, a bicycle or an electric scooter, you should know that these security measures are established for both vehicles. These are all the elements of mandatory use for your electric scooter:
- It is mandatory, since September 2021, to wear a safety helmet when riding with an electric scooter.
- You must wear a vest or reflective clothing . The DGT recommends always wearing it to be more visible.
- Although it is still under regulation, the DGT will force you to take out insurance to use the electric scooter.
- Wearing a bell on the handlebars is mandatory, since it is a system to be noticed by other drivers and pedestrians who circulate through the city and alert them to our presence as cyclists or VMP users if they have not noticed.
- Front and rear lights.
- Front, rear and front reflective reflector .
- Braking system : two independent brakes, with a minimum deceleration of 3.5 m/s2.
Fines can be large
As with other vehicles, the DGT 2022 electric scooter regulation establishes a series of traffic violations. In some ways they are common to all VMPs, although there are some fines that affect only those who ride a scooter.
In this way, and since the helmet is a mandatory element, it is done with a fine of 200 euros for those who do not wear it. The scooter will also be immobilized, so you will not be able to continue driving it.
On the other hand, at night you must drive with the corresponding lights, white in the front and red in the rear. Just like riding a bike.
If for some reason the vehicle does not have lights, the driver must wear reflective clothing to be seen if driving at night. If you do not take any of these elements, you are guilty of negligent driving, an action that is fined 200 euros .
