The proliferation of electric scooters in Spain marks a significant change in urban mobility. Around 5 million copies are currently circulating on the streets of our country, according to data managed by the Spanish Federation of Personal Mobility Vehicles.
Although these gadgets have found a regulatory fit in the Traffic Law, by including Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMP), some gaps still persist regarding other aspects related to safety.
The electric scooter explosions in the subway, both in Madrid and Barcelona, ??generated an immediate response from the authorities. These incidents led to the prohibition of their access to public transport in both cities, a measure that was extended in a less restrictive manner to Seville and Palma and that Renfe will implement on all its trains starting December 12. And so will Ouigo and Iryo.
In this sense, the Generalitat has asked the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) to advance the date so that electric scooters must have a safety guarantee certificate to be able to circulate. This document will be mandatory for copies sold from January 22, 2024, but those that have been purchased previously may continue to circulate until January 22, 2027 even though they do not have this certificate.
In a new proposal, AECA-ITV, the association of vehicle inspection centers, suggests that electric scooters should undergo a technical review to ensure that they meet certain safety criteria throughout their useful life.
This entity has presented its technical inspection proposal for the VMP in order to ensure correct operation, “avoiding accidents that may cause in their interaction with other means of public transport and citizens.” The inspection would also serve to detect possible manipulations of its components.
This proposal includes the necessary technical requirements so that local police or ITV operators themselves can verify the appropriate condition of the vehicle for use on public roads and combined use with other public transport.
The Personal Mobility Vehicle Inspection Manual prepared by AECA-ITV is made up of more than 30 inspection points, based on three key aspects: speed, braking and battery and wiring.
To have greater control of electric scooters, since they do not have a license plate, AECA-ITV proposes that the copies that have been reviewed must carry an accreditation sticker, as happens with the rest of the vehicles. This “indestructible” sticker could include a QR code that would allow us to know if it is in optimal circulation conditions.
