Controls and sanctions of up to one thousand euros were announced by the Security Councilor, Federico Alarcón on Friday to address the road safety problems caused by users of electric scooters and personal mobility vehicles.
Scooters are already part of the urban landscape of Torrevieja and are a useful element for traveling around the city but for the bad driving practices of many of their owners.
Among the most common are riding on pavements, a dangerous act that puts pedestrians at risk, driving in the wrong direction, traveling at excessive speeds, carrying two riders and the use of headphones, usually by drivers under 16 years of age.
Despite the express ban of driving this type of vehicle by minors of that age, their use is increasingly popular among dozens of youths who use them daily to travel to secondary schools.
The Torrevieja Council had been preparing legislation in this regard for some time, in response to complaints from the public in general and pedestrians who see their physical integrity in danger even when they go out for a walk.
There is a Local Police officer assigned to the role of disseminating traffic regulations in educational centres, but the controversy over the use of scooters among youngsters has only grown in recent months.
It has been the entry into force of a national regulatory change that has given rise to this new campaign with particular regard to scooters.
Since 22 January, all new personal mobility vehicles (VMP), must be certified and comply with a technical characteristics issued by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). The must carry a factory marking on the back with the maximum speed, serial number, certificate number, year of construction, make and model. VMPs acquired before that date have until 2027 to obtain that certificate.
To raise awareness among members of the public and users of these vehicles, talks are being held in secondary education centres so that everyone is made aware of the mandatory rules and the need for improved safety for scooter drivers. As such, information brochures are being distributed that list the offences that are punishable, as well as recommendations and traffic rules.
The main recommendations included in the manual:
Do not use headphones, or mobile phones.
Do not ride on pavements, pedestrian areas or parks
Helmets and insurance are highly recommended
It is prohibited to be pulled along by other vehicles
Only one person per scooter
In addition, it is prohibited to use these vehicles with alcohol levels higher than those established, or under the influence of drugs. It is mandatory to undergo tests to detect these substances. You should not drive negligently or recklessly.
At night or in low visibility conditions, yellow front lights and red rear lights, front and rear reflectors and a rear brake light, must be used.
The Chief of the Local Police, Óscar Cartón has explained that specific roadside checks for scooters will be carried out, first of all, to inform users about the regulations. The objective of the controls is to reduce the offences committed by users; it is a training task. “If the violation continues, the sanction will then be imposed,” he said.
Personal mobility vehicles (VMP) must follow the same traffic code of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) as motor vehicles or bicycles. The sanctions that may be applied are as follows:
Driving in a pedestrian zone: €80
Driving without any lighting at night or in conditions of low or reduced visibility: €200
Driving with more than one occupant: €90
Driving whilst towed by another vehicle: €90
Using VMP’s if you are under 16 years old: €80
Driving with drugs: €1,000
Driving with an alcohol level higher than the regulation: €500
Refusing to take breathalyser tests: €1,000
Refusing drug tests: €1,000
Failure to respect pedestrian priority: €200
Failure to respect the priority of another vehicle: €90
Parking on pavements, walks and pedestrian or cyclist crossing areas: €80
Failure to obey mandatory signs (STOP, Give Way, etc.): €80
Failure to obey traffic signs (direction prohibited, parking prohibited, etc.): €80
Failure to respect the officers’ signals: €200
Failure to respect traffic lights: €200
TRAFFIC RULES:
Drive on the shoulder, if not the closest to the right side, according to the direction of travel.
Bike lanes can be used as long as the VMP does not exceed 20 km/h
You should not drive in the opposite direction, you must respect the STOP signs, give way, prohibited direction and pedestrian crossings.
Speed rules, priority of passage and other traffic regulations must be respected.
Drive with the necessary diligence and caution to avoid risks and damage to yourself or others, avoiding endangering other users.
In no case will it be possible to circulate on interurban roads
Helmets are “highly recommended” but not yet mandatory
The explanations failed to address two issues of local and state regulations. The fact that Torrevieja “recommends” but does not force the use of helmets and the proliferation of scooter rental companies of which there are currently five operating in Torrevieja.
