Cyprus authorities propose stricter measures against reckless electric scooter use

The Cypriot Ministry of Transport has announced a new decree aimed at curbing reckless behavior and increasing traffic safety following a rise in severe accidents and fatalities involving electric scooters. Public Works Department engineer Charis Christodoulou confirmed that the proposal is ready for public consultation and legal review by the Attorney General's Office in the coming days.

The proposed measure introduces the impoundment of personal mobility devices for a period ranging from 30 to 90 days. This penalty will apply specifically in cases where scooters are driven on prohibited roads, operated by individuals under the age of 17, or exceed the speed limit of 25 kilometers per hour. While existing legislation is already stringent, officials suggest that the primary challenge lies in the consistent enforcement of current laws by both police and local authorities.

Sotiris Ioannou, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, emphasized the urgent need for strict enforcement once the new regulations are passed. This legislative push comes as prior efforts to reduce traffic incidents have failed to produce the desired outcomes, necessitating these more direct punitive measures to regulate the use of electric scooters across the country.