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Date Published: 15/08/2023

Electric scooters remain in legal limbo in the Region of Murcia

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Cartagena and Lorca are two of the only municipalities to introduce legal regulations

Electric scooters remain in legal limbo in the Region of Murcia

It might seem like the exploding trend of electric scooter use in Spain is a new one, but as far back as 2016 the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) recognised the need for safety regulations and urged each town hall to come up with its own rules. Lacking any real national guidance, municipalities are free to decide what is and isn’t allowed when it comes to these personal mobility vehicles, and a shocking number of places still have no regulations or penalties to speak of.

Police in the Region of Murcia have expressed their frustration at the lack of ordinance – incredibly, popular tourist destinations like Águilas and San Pedro del Pinatar still haven’t regulated electric scooter use – which renders the authorities powerless to sanction irresponsible behaviour.

At the national level, the DGT announced at the beginning of the summer that they were working on making helmets and insurance mandatory, as well as establishing a minimum age limit (16 years has been suggested). However, this still appears to be a long way off.

In the Region of Murcia, Cartagena and Lorca stand out as two of the biggest municipalities to impose restrictions on personal mobility vehicles, and the fines for misuse can be substantial.

Lorca

Lorca decided in June this year that scooter users wouldn’t need insurance until the Spanish government made the requirement mandatory nationwide but the City Council has established three sanction levels: minor, serious and very serious.

Minor offences include carrying more people than is permitted, not wearing a helmet with the proper light at night, riding a scooter barefoot and failing to maintain a one-metre distance from pedestrians. These misdemeanours will cost rule-breakers 100 euros.

More serious breaches will cost 200 euros and involve exceeding the speed limit, riding dangerously or negligently, wearing headphones or using a scooter if you are under 15 years of age.

The most serious crimes carry a fine of 600 euros and include exceeding the maximum speed by more than 50% and using a scooter when drunk or under the influence of drugs.

Cartagena

In the port city, the regulations were approved in 2022 and, like Lorca, highly recommends civil liability insurance without making it mandatory. However, failing to use a bike lane will cost scooter users 200 euros.

Murcia

Specific regulations in the regional capital have been delayed due to the recent elections but the new government team hopes to have the ordinance ready by the end of this year.

Accidents with electric scooters

Love them or hate them, electric scooters appear to be the wave of the future. There can be little doubt that they are one of the most sustainable means of transport and a strong ally in our fight against climate change, but most people will agree that safety regulations need to be tightened up considerably.

According to the DGT, throughout Spain the most road accidents with personal mobility vehicles involve young people who often aren’t aware of the rules, where they exist at all.

“There are more and more accidents, since scooter use is growing a lot,” said a spokesperson, who added that youngsters frequently drive through red lights, ignore traffic signs are incorrectly ride on footpaths.

“The most frequent infraction is not using the appropriate lanes and driving on sidewalks and pedestrian areas, and at night the lack of lighting,” Antonio Saturno, inspector of the Murcia Local Police, explained.

Find all the latest motoring, transport and travel news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates

Image: Freepik

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