From what age can minors ride an electric scooter?
What is the minimum age to drive an electric scooter?
- The use of personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) or electric scooters has been increasing year after year among young people.
- Basic rules of the DGT for users of electric scooters
The use of electric scooters on the streets of Spanish cities is becoming more and more widespread. And, increasingly, its use is on the rise among the young. It is an alternative to public transport or even to private vehicles and its design is ideal for mobility in large cities as well as in smaller population centers. It is one of the most efficient and sustainable vehicles. It is the preferred choice of users when they are looking for a short and fast commute. They are relatively fast, electrically charged and fold for easy transport and storage.
Enormous growth in the use of electric scooters
In Barcelona and its metropolitan area, the use of electric scooters has increased by 132% in the last two years and in Madrid there are more than ten rental companies operating with more than 5,000 units available to users in the 21 districts of the city.
These advantages explain why there are so many of them circulating on the streets, many of them driven by minors.
But can younger people really drive them?
It is common to see minors and children riding an electric scooter. The recent regulation has set an age from which it is legal to circulate legally. If you want to know what it is, in this article we will provide the keys on the use of electric scooters in minors.
Minimum age to ride an electric scooter
The minimum age in Spain to legally ride an electric scooter has been set at 16 years old. In any case, this is a range in which one is still a minor. Therefore, if a person who has reached 16 years of age rides an electric scooter and causes an accident, the parents or legal guardians will be liable.
Although the DGT announced that it was going to establish a minimum age for driving personal mobility vehicles (PMVs), including electric scooters, the truth is that this regulation has not yet arrived and it is still the city councils that regulate the age limits through municipal ordinances.
Currently, the cities that have pronounced themselves on the matter dictate this age.
Madrid: minimum age 15 years old.
Barcelona: minimum age 16 years old.
Pamplona: minimum age 14 years old.
Seville: minimum age 15 years old.
Valencia: minimum age 16 years old.
Alicante: minimum age 16 years old.
Malaga: minimum age 16 years old.
Bilbao: minimum age 16 years old.
Therefore, whether or not your child can go to school on an electric scooter depends on the municipality in which he or she resides. If your town is not listed above, contact your local town hall to find out what age is required to ride a scooter in your town.
The DGT warns of the fine you face if your child is under the required age if he/she is carrying an electric skateboard.
Fines will be paid by the parents of minors: up to 1000 euros.
To become an electric skateboard user, it is not necessary to pass a theoretical or practical examination. The age requirement is to be at least 16 years of age or the required age. The fines generated will be paid by the parents of the minors. In case of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, the fine ranges from 500 to 1000 euros. In case the driver tests positive in a breathalyzer test, the vehicle will be immobilized. In case the driver makes use of the cell phone or helmets they may face fines of up to 200 euros. This figure is the same if the user does not wear a helmet when riding the skateboard. In case the VMP transports more than one person, it will have to pay a fine of 100 euros.
It is strictly forbidden to ride two people on the same skate.
That is the reason why, if you are going to insure an electric scooter, you should consider the possibility of informing the insurance company that there will be someone under 18 who will also be driving it. It is necessary to think that an electric scooter is not any kind of toy, only those that do not have a motor and that are not capable of exceeding 6 km/h by human traction are considered. In addition, toy scooters are allowed to ride on sidewalks, while electric scooters are not.
But one rule must be emphasized, it is very common to see a parent and child riding the same scooter. The adult may think that in this way no regulations are being violated.
Serious mistake, the electric scooter is exclusively for personal use, under no circumstances can two people ride on it. The chances of having an accident increase exponentially.
There is an exception
Can your 12-year-old ride an electric scooter?
Although the regulations state that you may not, you may use the electric scooter as long as you are wearing a helmet, you are responsible for it, you do not lose sight of it, and you are in a place that is closed to traffic. It can be a park or a courtyard.
We will have to keep an eye on the rest of the cities, as the increase in electric scooter users is encouraging many cities to launch their own regulations. But if you tell us otherwise, the minimum age will always be 16 years old.
On the other hand, although the learning curve of an electric scooter is high, that is, it is mastered in a very short time, you have to devote a little effort to ride correctly and ride well with greater guarantees. For this purpose, nothing better than choosing a closed place or a place with minimum traffic.
Basic rules and tips for safe travel in VMPs