The Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V) have proposed a new law to lower the maximum speed of electric scooters to 20 km/h and introduce mandatory licence plates in response to a surge in accidents involving these vehicles.
Electric scooters have become increasingly popular in recent years, but their growing use has led to a troubling rise in road accidents.
In Flanders, the number of injury-causing incidents involving e-scooters increased by 10% last year.
According to traffic safety institute Vias, the number of injuries from electric scooter accidents rose by 60% in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2022. Currently, there are about five electric scooter-related accidents every day.
CD&V MP, Tine Gielis, argues that action must be taken to address these risks. She has proposed reducing the maximum speed limit for e-scooters from 25 km/h to 20 km/h.
"A lower speed gives both riders and other road users more time to react and reduces the likelihood of severe injuries," Gielis explained. She noted that many scooter riders mistakenly feel as safe as cyclists, despite their slower reaction times. "Limiting speed is a logical first step," she added.
The party also advocates for the introduction of licence plates for both private and shared e-scooters. Licence plates, Gielis believes, would make it easier to enforce traffic laws and issue fines for violations.
"Traffic regulations apply to everyone, including electric scooter users. Today, some riders behave recklessly, speeding through school zones at 90 km/h, knowing enforcement is difficult because scooters are not officially registered vehicles," Gielis stated.
CD&V hopes these measures will help curb the surge in accidents and improve overall road safety. The party’s proposals aim to ensure that these increasingly common vehicles coexist responsibly with other road users.
