Teen Shared Kickboard Accidents Continue
Experts Call for Mandatory Related Licenses
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] It has been revealed that some shared electric scooter companies are effectively neglecting underage unlicensed driving.
On the 8th, Asia Economy inspected the user registration systems of eight electric scooter sharing companies and found that two of them allowed users to access services even if they registered under someone else's name or falsified their driver's license information. In the case of Company A, after mobile phone verification and card registration, users can rent scooters regardless of whether they hold a license. Company B allows registration even if false driver's license information is entered, enabling unlicensed driving.
The amended Road Traffic Act, which took effect on May 13 last year, imposes fines on drivers who engage in △ unlicensed driving △ failure to wear helmets, among other violations. Drivers must hold a "Class 2 Motorized Bicycle License" (motorized license). Violations result in a fine of 100,000 KRW. Since the motorized license can only be obtained by those aged 16 or older, most teenagers, including middle school students, are effectively unable to rent or use shared electric scooters.
However, accidents involving unlicensed shared electric scooter use by teenagers continue to occur. On the 1st, in Gwangju, Jeonnam, a middle school student, A, collided with a motorcycle while riding an electric scooter. It was found that A rented the scooter using someone else's name. In July last year, in Daejeon, Chungnam, a teenager hit a 60-year-old cyclist while riding an electric scooter and fled the scene; the court sentenced the teenager to a fine of 15 million KRW. Traffic accidents involving electric scooters reported to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance increased approximately 2.5 times from 878 cases in 2019 to 2,177 cases last year.
Professor Park Muhyuk of the Korea Road Traffic Authority said, "When sharing companies register rental businesses with local governments, they are granted permission as long as formal requirements are met," adding, "Within the current legal framework, institutions cannot impose sanctions on sharing companies, and consumers bear responsibility through fines." Professor Kim Pilsoo of Daelim University’s Department of Automotive Engineering said, "If a separate license for Personal Mobility (PM) devices is created and made mandatory, it would promote industry activation and allow consumers to use shared scooters safely."
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