Movement of electric scooters to be regulated in Moldova's Road Traffic Regulation

Chisinau, 14 September /MOLDPRES/ - The electric scooters and bicycles will be able to move only on specially arranged lanes and if they do not exist, the movement will be allowed on the road segments where the maximal speed allowed is of up to 50 km/hour. The movement of these transport means on roadway will be allowed only to people who turned 16 years, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.   

The cabinet of ministers today approved a string of amendments to the Road Traffic Regulation (RCR), in order to promote a safe road system and prevent traffic accidents with serious consequences for the participants in the traffic. 

The amendments approved bring clarity to the regime of bicycles, electric bicycles and, for the first time ever, it regulates the electric scooters. Thus, the notion of ‘’electric scooter’’ and the technical specifications of these transport means was introduced in RCR: if the vehicle has an engine capacity of 500 W and has a speed higher than 25 km/hour, the person is obliged to cover the schooling process, in order to get the special right to driver for the AM subcategory. Also, signs characteristic for the lanes reserved for cyclists and stations for vehicles’ supply with electric energy were introduced.     

At the same time, an interdiction is introduced to use the mobile phone or audio headphones during the movement on scooter, bicycle or motorized bicycle and the interdiction to drive the vehicle drunk or under the influence of drugs was extended on the drivers of electric scooters too. Concomitantly, the cabinet introduced the obligation to wear protection helmets during the driving of bicycles on the roads where the movement speed exceeds 50 km/hour (national roads).      

Another important element is the introduction of the safe way of outrunning of bicycles by car drivers, depending on the movement speed. Thus, at a speed lower than 50 km/hour, the outrunning of bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, motorized bicycles and motorcycles without side car is made by crossing the axle of the road with the left wheels. At a speed higher than 50 km/hour, the driver should cross the axle of the road (interrupted line) by at least a half of the vehicle’s width.   

Following the amendments made to RCR, in the areas with enhanced flow of vulnerable participants in the traffic, the speed will be reduced to 30 km/hour. These areas include the spaces adjacent to education institutions, hospitals, parks, cities’ historical centres. Thus, the management of the speed control will limit the negative effects of the aggressive driving.  

The Interior Ministry (MAI) worked out a draft amendment of RCR as a temporary solution of securing the sensitive zones, non-regulated so far, according to the good European practices. In continuation, MAI is to set to elaborate a new Road Code, fully adapted to the contemporary realities in terms of infrastructure, vehicles and behavior of the participants in the traffic.

As the situational analysis shows, one may conclude an exponential increase in the number of electric vehicles driven especially by young non-experienced people, which enhances the risk of accidents. During 2022 alone, 52 accidents with the involvement of electric scooters have been registered, in the wake of which 52 people were injured and one died.    

Photo: automarket.ro