Road Traffic Authority Provides Personal Mobility Device Usage Guidelines: "Safety Comes from Knowing How to Ride"

Increasing Trend of Traffic Accidents Involving Electric Kickboards
Head and Face Injuries May Be Fatal
Thorough Basic Inspections and Adherence to Safety Rules Required

Electric scooter. / Provided by Korea Road Traffic Authority

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Traffic accidents involving personal mobility devices (PMDs) such as electric kickboards are on the rise. With fatal accidents recently occurring in Busan, users are urged to exercise extra caution.

According to the Traffic Accident Analysis System (TAAS) of the Korea Road Traffic Authority on the 21st, traffic accidents involving personal mobility devices nearly doubled from 117 cases in 2017 to 225 cases in 2018. The number of fatalities also totaled eight, with four deaths each in 2017 and 2018.

As of 2018, the age group most frequently responsible for personal mobility device traffic accidents was 21-30 years old with 74 cases (32.9%). This was followed by 31-40 years old with 40 cases, and those under 20 years old with 25 cases. On the 12th of this month, a fatal accident occurred in Haeundae-gu, Busan, where a man in his 30s, Mr. A, riding an electric kickboard crossed a crosswalk against a red light and collided with a vehicle.

Personal mobility devices generally refer to transportation means powered mainly by electricity and used by one or two people. However, many users still operate them without fully understanding the regulations. Fundamentally, operating a personal mobility device requires a motorized bicycle license or a Class 2 ordinary or higher driver's license. Youth under 16 years old are prohibited from using them, and a fine of up to 300,000 KRW is imposed for unlicensed use.

In particular, personal mobility devices are not allowed to be driven on sidewalks or bicycle lanes. Like motorcycles, they must be driven on the roadway but are prohibited from entering motor vehicle-only roads and highways. However, in parks, usage is permitted within designated areas if allowed by local governments.

A citizen wearing no protective gear is riding an electric scooter weaving through cars on the Seoul Namsan Circular Road. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Both drivers and passengers must wear helmets, and a fine of 20,000 KRW is imposed for non-compliance. Since accidents can result in serious injuries, it is recommended to wear protective gear such as gloves, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads in addition to helmets. Among 311 personal mobility device accident cases reported to the Korea Consumer Agency from 2016 to 2018, head and face injuries accounted for the highest number at 123 cases (39.5%), followed by arm and hand injuries at 85 cases, and leg and foot injuries at 75 cases.

The Korea Road Traffic Authority urges users to perform thorough basic inspections, maintain safe riding habits, and avoid sudden operations such as abrupt turns, acceleration, or deceleration for safe use of personal mobility devices.

Since each device has different characteristics, users should refer to the provided user manual to check necessary items when purchasing. Basic checks before riding include brakes, handlebars, tire pressure, and battery. Caution is required as battery shocks or overcharging can cause fires due to explosions, and in case of an accident, users should evacuate promptly and take follow-up measures.

During riding, the use of earphones or mobile phones is prohibited, and users must dismount when crossing crosswalks. Riding at night or in rainy weather should be avoided as much as possible; if unavoidable, headlights and taillights must be turned on. Since there are limited means to signal direction changes to others, extra attention is needed when turning. Sudden acceleration or deceleration can cause loss of balance and falls, so abrupt operations should be avoided.

Yoon Jong-gi, Director of the Korea Road Traffic Authority, emphasized, “Personal mobility devices such as electric kickboards can cause serious injuries in accidents, so wearing protective gear and complying with traffic laws are essential,” adding, “Above all, safe riding habits are crucial to prevent accidents.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.