Even After One Year of Regulation... Can We Stop the 'Road Outlaws' Kickboard Riders?

Electric Scooter Accidents Rapidly Increasing Annually... High Proportion of Drunk Driving Incidents After Rush Hour
Concerns Over Traffic Accidents Persist Despite Safety Regulations Like 'Helmet Mandate'
Calls to Enact 'PM Basic Law' to Strengthen Safety Obligations for Scooter Companies

On the 30th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency began a special crackdown on traffic violations targeting personal mobility devices such as motorcycles, bicycles, and electric kickboards for two months. A citizen is riding without wearing a helmet on a road near Gongdeok Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Park] As the number of electric scooter users rapidly increases, related accidents have surged significantly, leading to the enforcement of safety regulations such as mandatory helmet use since May last year. However, accidents caused by electric scooters continue to occur, threatening pedestrian safety. Although accessibility has improved with the introduction of shared scooters, it is pointed out that public awareness regarding safety has not kept pace.

Despite the establishment of safety regulations such as helmet wearing through the revision of the Road Traffic Act in May last year, 'scooter riders' who do not comply with these rules still roam the roads. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Consumer Education Institute from October 13 to 30 last year targeting 1,000 shared scooter users in the metropolitan area about 'helmet wearing,' only 37.3% responded that they wear helmets while riding scooters.

Accidents related to scooters also continue unabated. On the 29th in Gwangju, a teenage middle school student, riding an electric scooter without a license, ran a red light and collided with an oncoming vehicle. On the 12th in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, two people in their 20s riding one electric scooter together collided with a vehicle and died. They were not wearing helmets at the time of the accident and were transported to the hospital after the collision but passed away.

Additionally, on the 27th in Jung-gu, Seoul, a man in his 30s riding an electric scooter without a helmet was caught, and it was revealed that he is an active police officer affiliated with the National Police Agency. The breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol concentration was 0.097%, indicating a level of intoxication warranting license cancellation.

According to the current Road Traffic Act, personal mobility devices (PM) such as electric scooters can only be ridden by adults with a driver's license or those aged 16 or older who have obtained a Class 2 motorized bicycle license, and helmets must be worn while riding. It is prohibited to exceed the seating capacity by having two or more people ride simultaneously on one scooter or to ride on sidewalks. Riding under the influence of alcohol is also prohibited.

Electric scooters are parked in downtown Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Related statistics also support the seriousness of scooter accidents. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 26th, traffic accidents involving PMs increased sharply from 117 cases in 2017 to 1,735 cases in 2021, about 15 times more.

In particular, the proportion of drunk driving accidents was high after rush hour, with more than half of the accidents occurring intensively from 6 p.m. to midnight, the rush hour period, and the proportion of accidents caused by drinking was 9.5% (324 cases). From January 1 to May 20 this year, the number of drunk driving crackdowns on PMs such as scooters in the Seoul area also increased by 89.8% compared to the same period last year. This is interpreted as an increase in citizens choosing electric scooters as an alternative to insufficient public transportation during late-night hours amid the so-called 'taxi crisis' centered in the metropolitan area.

Some argue that electric scooter companies should establish safety measures such as providing helmets. According to a survey by the Korea Consumer Education Institute, as of October last year, only 6 out of 20 shared scooter companies provide helmets with electric scooters. Along with this, there are calls to enact a 'PM Basic Act' to strengthen the legal obligations of companies. The bill includes changing electric scooter rental companies to a registration system, imposing safety obligations and license verification duties, and making insurance subscription mandatory.

Meanwhile, as fatal accidents caused by 'two-wheeled vehicles' such as electric scooters have sharply increased during late-night hours, the police have decided to conduct special crackdowns on traffic law violations. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 29th, "As the use of so-called 'two-wheeled vehicles' such as motorcycles, bicycles, and personal mobility devices (PM) increases, raising concerns about traffic accidents, special crackdowns will be conducted from May 30 to July 31."