Strengthening Electric Scooter Usage Regulations, Citizens Are 'Strongly in Favor'

"77% Say 'Active Regulation Needed'"

On the 13th, when the revised Road Traffic Act strengthening regulations on the use of personal mobility devices (PM) such as electric kickboards came into effect, traffic safety officers from the Gangnam Police Station were conducting guidance and promotional activities around Samseong Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. According to the revision, only those holding a "Class 2 motorized bicycle license" or higher can ride electric kickboards, and a fine of 20,000 won will be imposed for riding without a helmet. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Amid the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act that strengthens regulations on personal mobility devices (PM) such as electric kickboards, a survey revealed that the majority of users agree with the safety regulations.

According to the results of the "Electric Kickboard Safety Helmet Awareness Survey" jointly conducted by shared electric kickboard operator Neuron Mobility and the non-profit safety civic organization Safety Life Practice Citizens' Coalition (Ansillyeon) on the 16th, 91.5% of respondents considered the safety of users and pedestrians as "very important" when using electric kickboards.

When asked about the necessity of new regulations following the law revision, 77.1% responded that they were "strongly necessary," which was the highest, and 21.9% said they were "somewhat necessary." Considering only the necessity of "electric kickboard safety regulations," positive responses accounted for 99% of the total. Additionally, the response rates of people in their 40s regarding "user and pedestrian safety" and "strong necessity for safety regulations" (93.8% and 81.2%, respectively) were higher compared to other age groups.

Regarding plans to wear helmets, 49.2% said they plan to use helmets provided by shared electric kickboard operators, and 39.3% said they would purchase personal helmets. Only 10.5% responded that they would not use electric kickboards if helmet-wearing was mandatory.

[Photo by Road Traffic Authority]

As for the most effective measures to increase helmet-wearing rates, police crackdowns and fines accounted for 69.4% (multiple responses), the highest. This was followed by helmet provision by shared electric kickboard operators (47.4%), incentives for wearing helmets (30.8%), and user education on helmet-wearing (16.0%). A total of 81.7% of respondents emphasized that shared electric kickboard operators should make greater efforts to protect users' safety.

Ko Young-joo, head of Ansillyeon, said, "Through this survey, we confirmed that the majority agree on the 'strong necessity for electric kickboard safety regulations' for the safety of users and pedestrians, regardless of age, gender, or experience using electric kickboards," adding, "Shared electric kickboard operators need to take more proactive measures to protect users' safety."

Meanwhile, this survey was conducted by Open Survey, a mobile survey specialist, on behalf of Neuron Mobility and Ansillyeon, targeting 2,000 adults aged 18 and over residing in the Seoul metropolitan area.