Electric Kickboards: '100,000 Won Fine' for Riding Without a License

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[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Starting from the 13th, a fine of 100,000 KRW will be imposed for using personal mobility devices such as electric kickboards without a driver's license.

On the 11th, the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced that the revised Road Traffic Act, which strengthens the safety of personal mobility device operators, will be enforced. In cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the National Police Agency, the government plans to enhance safety inspections and promotional activities at the national level to establish a safe usage culture for personal mobility devices.

According to the Korea Transport Institute, the number of personal mobility devices in Korea has rapidly increased from 98,000 units in 2017 to 167,000 units in 2018, and 196,000 units in 2019. Accordingly, only devices meeting safety standards have been allowed to use bicycle lanes, and the same traffic rules and operator duties of care as bicycles have been applied.

However, as the use of personal mobility devices has increased recently, especially among teenagers, safety concerns have been raised. Consequently, the revised Road Traffic Act with strengthened regulations was passed by the National Assembly in December last year.

The enforcement details related to personal mobility devices are as follows: ▲ A fine of 100,000 KRW for unlicensed driving ▲ A fine of 20,000 KRW for not wearing protective gear ▲ A fine of 40,000 KRW for exceeding the passenger limit (two or more riders) ▲ A fine of 100,000 KRW imposed on guardians if children under 13 drive.

The government plans to conduct safety campaigns while simultaneously cracking down on and educating about major legal violations. Related education will also be provided to elementary, middle, and high school students. Furthermore, the government intends to newly enact a law on the management and promotion of personal mobility devices in the future to expand related infrastructure and strengthen safety management standards.

A government official urged, "As the number of personal mobility device users increases as a new means of transportation, related accidents are also continuously rising, so please be sure to follow safety rules."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.