New, stricter measures for electric scooters are being promoted by the Transport Ministry amid an increase in serious injuries and deaths recorded in road collisions.
Speaking to state radio, Public Works Department executive engineer Charis Christodoulou said a decree providing for the retention of personal mobility devices has been prepared. It is expected to be put out for public consultation in the coming period, followed by a legal review by the Law Office.
Under the proposed decree, electric scooters could be retained for between 30 and 90 days for violations including riding on roads where their use is prohibited, riding by people under the age of 17 and exceeding the 25 km/h speed limit.
Enforcement remains a key concern
Christodoulou said the existing legislative framework is already strict, stressing that the main problem concerns the implementation and enforcement of the law.
He said effective checks are required from both the Police and local authorities to ensure that the existing rules on electric scooters are properly enforced.
Calls for existing rules to be enforced
The need for the existing provisions governing electric scooters to be implemented immediately was also highlighted by House Transport Committee chairman Sotiris Ioannou.
He stressed that once legislation has been passed and published in the Official Gazette, it must be enforced. According to Ioannou, the main issue is not the absence of a legislative framework but its effective implementation.
He recalled that Parliament has already tightened the legislation, including by raising the minimum age to 17 and introducing stricter penalties.
However, the Transport Ministry’s decree enabling the retention of electric scooters for specific violations remains pending.
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