The police are re-pushing for the establishment of a dedicated driver's license for personal mobility devices (PM) such as electric kickboards.
A National Police Agency official said on the 18th, "We plan to come up with a reasonable plan at the police agency level by January next year at the latest, through surveys and consultations with related organizations and groups by the end of this year."
The National Police Agency has already prepared institutional improvement plans by commissioning research projects twice, in 2021 and 2023, to the Road Traffic Research Institute under the agency. Based on this, bills were proposed in the National Assembly, but the dedicated license measures were repeatedly stalled due to some opposing opinions leading to their rejection.
Three methods for obtaining the license are being discussed: taking only the written test, taking both the written and practical tests, or completing only online education.
Under the Road Traffic Act, shared electric kickboards can only be used by those aged 16 or older who hold at least a motorized bicycle license. This is because PMs can only be operated by holders of motorized bicycle licenses, Class 2 small vehicle licenses, or Class 1 and 2 regular licenses. The motorized bicycle license can be obtained from age 16, while Class 2 small vehicle and Class 1 and 2 regular licenses can be obtained from age 18. In other words, those under 16 cannot ride electric kickboards. The issue of minors 'riding kickboards without a license' arises due to these regulations.
Electric kickboards frequently appear suddenly on roads and often cause safety accidents. Accordingly, the need for a dedicated license has been steadily raised, mainly by the political sphere and the PM industry.
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