Electric Scooter Operation Without License Allowed Starting Today... 200,000 KRW Fine for Safety Rule Violations

Revised Road Traffic Act and Bicycle Act Effective from the 10th
Operation Requires Driver's License ... Applies 4 Months After Promulgation of Re-revised Bill

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] From now on, if caught riding personal mobility devices (PM) such as electric kickboards without wearing a helmet, under the influence of alcohol, or carrying a passenger, a fine of up to 200,000 KRW will be imposed.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the National Police Agency announced that the amendments to the "Road Traffic Act" and the "Act on the Promotion of Bicycle Use," which mainly allow personal mobility devices to use bicycle lanes, will be enforced starting from the 10th.

The law defines personal mobility devices as those with a maximum speed of less than 25 km/h and a total weight of less than 30 kg, as specified by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and applies the Road Traffic Act only to products confirmed to comply with the "safety standards" set by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. These personal mobility devices are allowed to use bicycle lanes and are subject to the same traffic methods and driver duties of care as bicycles.

Also, for safe and smooth communication, road management authorities may designate certain sections of bicycle lanes to prohibit or restrict the passage of personal mobility devices.

However, as traffic accidents related to personal mobility devices have recently increased and concerns about youth safety have grown, a bill focusing on strengthening the safety of personal mobility devices passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 9th. The revised Road Traffic Act requires a driver's license to operate personal mobility devices. Since this law will be enforced four months after promulgation, for the time being, those aged 13 and older can use them without a license. A fine of up to 200,000 KRW will also be imposed for not wearing protective gear or for driving with two or more passengers.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related agencies also formed a "public-private consultative body" on the 30th of last month, jointly involving PM-related companies, to restrict the rental users of PMs to those aged 18 and older. However, those aged 16 to 17 with a motorized bicycle license can still use them.

The amended Road Traffic Act also includes significantly strengthened penalties for driving at speeds exceeding the speed limit of 80 km/h. Previously, exceeding 60 km/h resulted only in a uniform fine (120,000 KRW) and driver's license penalty points, without criminal punishment. However, with the amendment, driving at speeds exceeding 80 km/h will result in a fine of up to 300,000 KRW, 80 penalty points, detention, or other criminal penalties. If driving over 100 km/h occurs three or more times, criminal penalties will be imposed along with license cancellation.

The National Police Agency urged citizens to strictly follow safety rules related to personal mobility devices, such as prohibiting walking on sidewalks, wearing protective gear, and banning two-person riding on electric kickboards. They also plan to continue educational and promotional activities regarding violations of personal mobility device regulations on roads and strengthen crackdowns on "risk factors such as drunk driving" in the future.

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