Electric Kickboards Unlicensed Starting Today... Four Months of Chaos Begin

PM driving allowed for ages 13 and above
Riding with 2 or more passengers prohibited but no separate penalty
30,000 KRW fine for riding on sidewalks

Helmet and safety gear must be worn
Beware of overcharging to prevent fire

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Jo In-kyung and Lee Kwan-joo] The amended Road Traffic Act, which relaxes regulations on personal mobility devices (PM) by allowing unlicensed driving for those aged 13 and over, came into effect on the 10th. However, the law was re-amended with a focus on strengthening safety and passed in the National Assembly plenary session the day before, making the current regulation a four-month "temporary" provision.

According to the amended Road Traffic Act and the "Act on the Promotion of Bicycle Use" implemented on this day, personal mobility devices 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, are defined as PMs. PMs are allowed to use bicycle lanes and are subject to the same traffic rules and driver duties as bicycles.

However, due to the recent increase in traffic accidents involving PMs, a bill aimed at strengthening safety was passed in the National Assembly plenary session the day before. The re-amended Road Traffic Act requires a driver's license to operate a PM. The re-amended law will take effect four months after its promulgation.

In summary, from today (the 10th) until April next year, those aged 13 and over can use PMs such as electric kickboards without a license. Wearing safety gear and riding with more than one passenger are prohibited, but there are no penalties for violations. However, from April next year, a motorized bicycle license, commonly known as a motorcycle license, will be required, and violators of safety gear regulations will be fined up to 200,000 KRW. Those who already hold a car driver's license can use PMs with that license. Since the motorized bicycle license can be obtained from age 16, only those aged 16 and over will be allowed to use electric kickboards from April next year.

As confusion over PM-related laws increases, it has become even more important for drivers to follow proper safety rules. According to guidelines from the Road Traffic Authority, wearing a helmet is the most important safety gear. An analysis of 311 PM accident cases reported to the Korea Consumer Agency showed that head and face injuries accounted for 39.5% of injuries, the highest proportion. Injuries to hands and arms (27.3%) and feet and legs (24.1%) were also frequent, so it is advisable to wear gloves and elbow and knee protectors whenever possible.

Basic inspections before operation are essential. Starting with brake checks, which are most important for driving safety, users should check for abnormalities in the handlebar, saddle, pedals, tire pressure, lighting control devices, and battery. When driving, attention should be paid to the characteristics of each device. For example, with a one-wheel board, maintaining balance is difficult at low speeds, so riding should be avoided in areas where maintaining a certain speed is difficult. For electric kickboards, the smaller the wheels, the more careful one must be with steering, and the road surface should be closely monitored.

The common riding method is to use bicycle lanes if available, and if roads and sidewalks are separated, to travel along the right edge of the road. Using sidewalks results in a fine of 30,000 KRW. Drunk driving and speeding are obviously prohibited, and since there are no turn signals, sudden direction changes should be avoided.

Additionally, considering the risk of battery fires, caution should be exercised to avoid collisions and overcharging. Avoiding riding over potholes deeper than 2 cm or hills with slopes over 15 degrees will help prolong the device's lifespan. A Road Traffic Authority official said, "We plan to create and release PM usage guidelines reflecting the re-amended law."

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