The debate has been heated about whether or not electric scooters should be in Swedish cities.
Some see it as an easy way to get around, while others are more skeptical due to the potential risk of injury and traffic disruption.
Now comes news of a major change, namely that a decline is now visible in the accident statistics regarding electric scooters.
It is the first time ever that this has happened, reports Teknikens værl.
Numbers show
Figures from the Swedish Transport Agency, analyzed by the insurance company Dina Försäkringar, show the unexpected decline.
Last year there were 3,156 accidents with electric scooters, which is a decrease of almost 8 percent compared to the year before.
Most accidents occurred in Stockholm, followed by Malmö, Gothenburg, Västerås, Halmstad and Norrköping.
Therefore, fewer accidents occur
Victor Öberg, who is an expert in vehicle insurance at the insurance company, explains the reason for the statistics.
– The reduction can partly be attributed to the introduction of clearer traffic rules. Two years ago, for example, it was forbidden to park and drive on footpaths, he tells Teknikens värld.
– But there are also signals that the use of electric scooters has decreased, so it is difficult to draw conclusions as to whether it has actually become safer to ride an electric scooter.
New rules
In addition to the introduction of clearer traffic rules, there are now also requirements for traffic insurance on e-scooters.
– Does your electric scooter need traffic insurance? Yes probably. From 23 December 2023, new rules in the Road Damage Act apply which mean that many electric scooters and certain other light electric vehicles must have road insurance when they are used in traffic, explains the Traffic Insurance Association.
It concerns
It is important as an owner to know what applies to the electric scooter.
– It is vehicles with these characteristics that must have traffic insurance, explains the association.
– Electric vehicles without a pedal or crank device, if the vehicle is designed to go faster than 20 kilometers per hour.
– Electric vehicles without a pedal or crank device, if the vehicle is designed to go faster than 14 kilometers per hour and weighs more than 25 kilograms.
Photo: M. Rucinski
Text: The editors
