The police are lacking the proper equipment to measure the speed of modified e-scooters and e-bikes in Belgium, a situation complicated by regulatory hurdles from regional and federal authorities, reports VRT on Thursday.
E-scooters have frequently been in the spotlight for negative reasons, with an increasing number of accidents, including fatalities, often attributed to excessive speed.
The legal speed limit is 25 km per hour, but models capable of reaching up to 90 km per hour can be purchased online or from local sellers.
Currently, the police use the same types of rollers for e-scooters as they do for mopeds, but these devices are outdated and unsuitable for measuring speeds of vehicles with (electric) front-wheel drive, the police informed VRT.
Additionally, the fragmented regulatory landscape makes manufacturers reluctant to offer new equipment in Belgium.
Approval for speed measurement devices, known as curvometers, is required from the Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels-Capital regions, as well as the Federal Government, explained Lien Meurisse from the Ministry of Economy. This means manufacturers must seek approval from four separate authorities.
As a result of similar complications, the police also lack access to speed guns, portable radar devices that allow for faster and more objective detection of speed violations. Such devices are commonly used in other European countries.
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