Italy introduces harsher penalties for drunk, drugged e-scooter riders

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Jun 2023 00:19

E-scooters will now require a registration plate and will have to be insured.

A man making deliveries rides an electronic bike in New York, Dec. 21, 2017 (AP)

A decree law adopted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's cabinet on Tuesday will aim to implement harsher penalties for drunk or drugged e-scooter drivers.

The decree has already come into force but has to be converted into law by Parliament within the two coming months.

E-scooters will now require a registration plate and will have to be insured, the decree states, noting that users will be required to wear protective gear such as helmets and will not be allowed to park their scooters on pavements.

According to the Sharing Mobility Observatory, about 45,000 e-scooters were rented in Italy in 2021.

Authorities deemed that the scooters were dangerous in cities with heavy traffic or few cycle routes, where drivers have complained they pose a danger to traffic safety.

The bill will impose penalties for e-scooter drivers who drive under the influence and will be required to provide a breath sample before starting the vehicle.

Those who cause serious incidents under the influence will receive a 30-year ban on driving e-scooters.

According to Italy's traffic police, about 1,500 people were killed in road accidents in 2022.

In 2022, Italy had 53 road deaths per million inhabitants. In France, that number was 49 and in Germany, 34. The EU average stands at 46, as per data shown by the EU Commission.