Electromobility has gained in popularity in recent years, mainly due to its speed and practicality in larger cities, where congestion is the order of the day. This year has been exacerbated by the fact that fuels are extremely expensive and people are looking for alternatives. They are a very popular means of transport in particular electric scooters. But we don't have the best news for their owners, because it's coming compulsory insurance for scooters.
Here you will also find scooters up to 25 km / h
The problem with the growing number of scooters
With the growing number of electric scooters on the road, it was only a matter of time before some regulation or just, compulsory insurance. As the portal informs list.sk, accidents and damage events were problematic, where in the vast majority of cases electric scooters did not have any compulsory contractual insurance, as is the case with cars. Then the solution to the accident with the insurance company was very problematic. By this time, however, it will soon ring.
At the same time, electric scooter riding is already regulated by the Road Traffic Act, where a vehicle with an additional motorbike can only drive on the sidewalk at pedestrian speed and must comply with the applicable road traffic rules on the road. In addition, such a vehicle may only be driven by a person over 15 years of age.
The zoznam.sk portal also specified the speed limit for electric scooters, for which a driving license is already required:
"If the approval authority classifies the scooter in category L, e.g. L1 with a maximum design speed of more than 25 km, in which case its driver would already have to hold an AM driving license." said Denisa Bárdyová from the Police Presidium.
Many electric scooters have a limited top speed due to this regulation, which several EU countries have, although their performance can reach much higher speeds. Such scooters tend to have a sticker on the side of the platform that they meet the standard. However, there is a possibility to unlock a higher speed, provided that the electric scooter still has a speed mode of up to 25 km / h and thus meets the regulation.
Who is to blame for the scooter accident?
The number of accidents involving pedestrians or cars is still increasing and many people still do not know who is responsible for the damage in the event of such an event. The opoisteni.sk portal informs that in the event of an accident of an electric scooter and a pedestrian on the sidewalk where the driver is to blame, the user of the scooter is fully liable for damages. The same is true in the event of an electric car accident, if the user of the electric car is to blame for the accident.
"If the owner of the scooter has taken out household insurance as part of the household liability insurance, he also has insured damage to health or property that he causes by his ride. In such a case, the damage will be covered by the insurance company, " Pavol Pastír from the liability insurance department of UNIQA poisťovňa said for the seznam.sk portal.
Pavol Pastír clarified the fact that in the case of poor technical condition of the electric scooter and it was not obvious to the user of the scooter, in that case the fulfillment of damages goes to the owner or operator of these electric scooters. Here you need to be especially careful when renting electric scooters, such as Bolt.
A very ugly video that captures the accident of a scooter and a car comes from the neighboring Czech Republic. The scooter is to blame because he did not give priority to the passing vehicles.
Compulsory insurance for scooters from 2024
Owners of electric scooters with a speed greater than 25 km / h they will have to think from 2024 on the new obligation approved by the European Parliament. Compulsory insurance will also cover scooters with a speed greater than 14 km / h and at the same time weight exceeding 25 kg.
"The news should take effect in less than two years, from 1 January 2024 at the latest. According to the regulation, the obligation will apply to all electric scooters as well as segways with a speed of more than twenty-five kilometers per hour. The obligation also applies to the owners of a scooter that reaches a speed of over fourteen kilometers and at the same time weighs over twenty-five kilograms. " written by finsider.sk.
The new compulsory insurance does not apply to electric bicycles, but this does not apply to all EU countries. Germany and France, for example, will also introduce this obligation for electric bicycles, and if Slovaks want to transfer to them in these countries, they will have to insure them.
Insurance prices can be high at first
OVB Allfinanz Slovakia financial analyst Marián Búlik stated for the finsider.sk portal that the prices for electric scooter insurance will be evaluated by insurance companies on the basis of previous statistics on loss events and average damage caused.
"The price for the PZP for electric scooters will also depend on what the insurance will cover. In general, if we are only talking about liability for damage caused while driving an electric scooter, in my opinion, the insurance premium should not exceed 50 euros per year at the beginning," said Štefan Fajnor, director of Finportal's non-life insurance division.
What do you think about this regulation? Express your opinion in a survey, or leave a comment below the article.
I would just like to know if the forest owners will also have insured deer and deer. For who will repay me if a deer runs under my wheels?