Cyprus’s e-scooter regulations largely match new European safety proposals, as the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) today calls for unified controls across the EU.
According to a report on micro-mobility safety, Cyprus has recorded two e-scooter-related fatalities since the vehicles’ introduction, with deaths in 2019 and 2022, alongside several injuries. The most recent death contributed to a broader European trend that saw fatalities rise from 81 in 2021 to 119 in 2022 across 22 reporting states.
The island’s current regulations already implement several measures now being recommended by the ETSC. These include mandatory helmet use, prohibition of mobile phone use whilst riding, and drink-driving restrictions. Cyprus maintains a 20 km/h speed limit for e-scooters, with a reduced 10 km/h limit in pedestrian zones when permitted by local authorities.
Whilst the ETSC recommends a minimum riding age of 16, Cyprus currently allows riders from age 14. The council’s new report also calls for mandatory rider training, a measure not yet implemented in Cyprus.
Cypriot regulations already align with other key ETSC recommendations, including the prohibition of pavement riding, except where explicitly permitted by local authorities with appropriate signage. The country also requires e-scooters to be equipped with front and rear braking systems, lights, and horns.
The recommendations come as part of the ETSC’s Road Safety PIN (Performance Index) programme, where Cyprus is represented by George Morfakis.
The programme’s data revealed a significant gender disparity in European e-scooter fatalities between 2020 and 2023, with 283 male deaths compared to 46 female deaths across participating states.
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