The Ministry of Transport is taking radical steps to regulate the movement of electric scooters, which have recently gained exceptional popularity among urban populations. Experts from the Bulgarian Road Safety Association presented the details of upcoming legislative changes that will substantially transform the rules for moving with these light electric vehicles.
Key innovations include definitive age restrictions - operating electric scooters will now only be permitted for individuals who have reached 16 years of age. This threshold is introduced to ensure higher personal and public safety, taking into account the lack of sufficient experience and responsibility among younger drivers.
Another significant change is the mandatory registration of electric scooters, which equates them to other motor vehicles. They will receive registration numbers and will be required to possess mandatory Civil Liability insurance, which was not previously standard practice.
Vladimir Todorov from the Bulgarian Association of Accident Victims expressed some skepticism about the practical implementation of the new regulations. "The spirit is already out of the bottle, the scooter market is extremely liberal and accessible," the expert commented, highlighting the challenges of comprehensive regulation.
Specific prohibitions include night movement, mandatory helmet wearing, and the ban on using mobile devices while operating. Riders will be required to dismount from scooters when passing through pedestrian zones and strictly adhere to traffic rules.
The sanctions policy is also changing - non-compliance with new requirements will be punished with fines that are significantly higher than before. For instance, the penalty for lack of documents increases from 10 to 30 leva.
Lawyer Petar Bozov emphasized that the law's effectiveness will depend primarily on civic consciousness. "The law is like an open door through which people choose whether to pass responsibly," the jurist commented, stressing the need for personal judgment and discipline.
A serious emphasis in the new regulations is placed on technological control. Over 1000 cameras are planned to be deployed on roads, which will monitor speed modes and generate electronic tickets upon identifying violations.
Experts expect the transition to new rules to be gradual and associated with certain organizational challenges. However, the goal remains clear - improving road culture and reducing risks when using electric scooters in urban environments.