Debate on electric scooter safety continues, increasing EVs spark traffic security concerns

The electric scooter has become a need for those who reside in Turkey's major cities since it provides an alternative to public transportation in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and rising fuel expenses. However, as the number of two-wheeled electric vehicles increased on the roads, so did the number of traffic collisions, which spurred a discussion about their safety in Turkey, according to the Xinhua news agency. According to government statistics, there were 899 injuries and 899 fatalities in e-scooter incidents in China between April 2021 and June 2022.

In a crash on July 12 this year, a 23-year-old woman lost her life after being hit by a car while riding an e-scooter on her way home. The accident happened in Istanbul, Turkey`s largest city with more than 16 million people, where traffic is a daily problem.

The debate over their safety forced the government to impose regulations on e-scooters in 2021. Under the regulations, e-scooters can only be used by people at the age of 16 and above and are allowed only on bicycle lanes.

Also read: Exclusive: Revolution of EV policy and regulatory framework in India - Analysis

In places without bicycle lanes, they can be used on motor vehicle roads with a speed limit of 50 km per hour. Any violators are subject to fines.

"Scooters entered our lives as a facilitating tool. They offer a solution as an eco-friendly transport device. Their benefits can not be ignored," Yigit Dedeoglu, a road safety expert from Istanbul, told Xinhua. "But on the other hand, they entered our daily lives too fast. Therefore adaptation to this new device has not come accordingly," he added.

Dedeoglu suggested new safety measures such as basic and formal road security instructions for all e-scooter riders and the compulsory wearing of security gear such as helmets and knee and elbow pads to prevent major injuries. "It is impossible to ban e-scooters altogether because micro-mobility is our future. New regulations should be imposed for more safety," the expert noted.

With inputs from IANS