Starting Today, 'Electric Kickboard Regulations Strengthened'… Road Traffic Authority Develops and Distributes Educational Materials

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced on the 13th that it has developed non-face-to-face educational materials to prevent user confusion in line with the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act, which strengthens regulations on the use of personal mobility devices (PM) such as electric kickboards.

The Authority created the materials in the form of card news to make the related regulations easy to understand and posted them on the Road Traffic Authority e-Learning Center, an online platform for traffic safety education.

The materials cover essential information that users should know regarding the revised Road Traffic Act on personal mobility devices, including ▲the requirement of a license equivalent to a motorized bicycle or higher (license obtainable from age 16), with no riding allowed under age 16 ▲safe riding methods such as permission to use bicycle lanes ▲penalties for violations such as exceeding passenger capacity ▲new provisions holding guardians responsible (fines) when children under 13 ride.

In particular, to raise awareness of accident prevention and the seriousness of accidents involving personal mobility devices, the materials emphasize that penalties are strengthened under the “Act on Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes” for situations such as pedestrian accidents, hit-and-run, drunk driving causing injury or death, and accidents in child protection zones.

The materials have also been produced as online lecture-style educational videos for use in schools and institutions. These video materials can be obtained through the Road Traffic Authority’s Future Education Department.

Additionally, the Authority plans to develop and distribute a personal mobility device guidebook containing on-site safety rules. Hwang Sang-seop, head of the Authority’s Future Education Department, stated, “To promote a safe usage culture for personal mobility devices, we will provide various forms of educational content and strive to ensure that this new mode of transportation can harmoniously coexist on the roads as soon as possible.”