Respect the law – Update march 17 2022
To use an electric scooter, you do not need a driver’s license, but of course that does not mean that as a driver of an electric scooter you should not follow the laws. When riding an electric scooter, do not cause a nuisance or a dangerous situation for other road users and adjust your speed accordingly. On bicycle streets, steppers have the same rights and obligations as cyclists. Thus, they may also ride in the prohibited direction of one-way streets when a sign permits it for bicyclists. Finally, it is forbidden to ride a scooter in railway stations and public buildings.The government has decided that from the summer of 2022 there will be a ban on minus 16 year olds and users will not be allowed to drive on the sidewalk. On e.g. the seafront or play streets, young people are still allowed to ride an e-step. In pedestrian zones, a sign will indicate whether e-steps are allowed at a walking pace or not. It is also forbidden to ride a scooter with two at a time.Persons with limited mobility may still ride on the sidewalk.Parking
Do not leave the e-step in a place where it will interfere with other road users. Moreover, you must also consider local laws.Safety
Legislation provides a minimum age of 16 for riding an electric scooter starting in the summer of 2022. However, steppers must respect the terms of use of the company that provides them. Wearing a bicycle helmet is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. Driving under the influence of alcohol is completely prohibited. In this regard, steppers are subject to the same legislation as car drivers (no more than 0.5 promille alcohol content). And so it is also not allowed to drive with a smartphone in your hands. In addition, between sunset and sunrise when visibility is limited to 200m, it is mandatory to wear a white or yellow front light and a red rear light. This can be attached to clothing, backpack or helmet, for example, but most scooters come with lights. Finally, it is recommended to purchase a family insurance policy that covers damages caused to third parties.Electric scooter with saddle = not allowed
According to legislation, an electric scooter with saddle is considered as a class A vehicle if it cannot travel faster than 25 km/h – if the maximum speed is 45 km/h, the e-scooter with saddle is considered as class B and an AM driver’s license is required.To ride an e-scooter with a saddle, one must be at least 16 years old. For both categories, the e-step must be insured and registered.Therefore, the scooter with saddle must meet some technical requirements to be allowed on the road. For more information on this see the following link :Royal Decree of October 10, 1974 laying down general regulations on the technical requirements that mopeds, motorcycles and their trailers must meetThe other rules for mopeds also apply to e-steps with saddle: It is mandatory to wear a helmet. The lights on the electric scooter must always be on, including during the day. Make sure that you can always present the following documents if you use such a scooter on public roads: identity card, certificate of conformity, valid insurance, registration certificate.If your e-scooter with saddle has a maximum speed of 45 km/h, you must also be able to present a driver’s license. An electric scooter with a saddle and maximum speed of 25 km/h is allowed to ride on the bike path. An electric scooter with a saddle with a maximum speed of 45 km/h is allowed to ride on the bike path where the speed is limited to 50 km/h. Keep in mind that you must not obstruct cyclists in the process. On other roads, you must use the bike lane unless otherwise indicated by traffic signs.What insurance do you need for your electric scooter?
Because the e-step is not considered a motor vehicle, a family insurance is enough to cover your liability. For example, if you drive your scooter into a car, your family insurance will intervene to pay for the damage to the car. The same is true for the regular electric bike, by the way. The prerequisite is that the electric scooter complies with legislation and cannot drive autonomously faster than 25 kilometers per hour.
Electric scooter with saddle - the legal texts
The regulations concerning two-wheeled motor vehicles are contained in REGULATION (EU) No. 168/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles.
A regulation is directly applicable in any EU (EEA) member state and takes precedence over any national provisions. Belgium has partially transposed the regulation into Belgian law, including amendments to the RD 01/12/1975 (Highway Code) and the RD 10/10/1974 (technical requirements).
If the saddle height in the most extended position exceeds 54 cm, a two-wheeled motor vehicle falls under the application of the Regulation.
If the vehicle is equipped with pedals, it is NOT a moped (category L1e-B) but, given your written description, it is a MOTORIZED RIDING WHEEL.
The features of this vehicle are as follows:
- Maximum speed: 25 km/h
- Max. motor power 1 kW
- Main purpose: pedal assistance
- The auxiliary drive is interrupted at a speed greater than 25 km/h
Since the auxiliary drive is the main purpose, the vehicle can also be self-moving. So the vehicle can also drive without operating the pedals.
The good news is that the vehicle does not have to be insured (see art. 2bis Law 21/11/1989) and it does not have to be registered in the registry of motor vehicles (see art. 2, § 2.10° RD 20/07/2001).
The minimum age is 16 years (see art. 8.2.6° RD 01/12/1975).
The bad news is that the vehicle must be homologated. So you should be in possession of a COC (certificate of conformity) showing the chassis number (see art. 3, § 1 RD 10/10/1974). Only a CE approval is NOT sufficient.
These vehicles are impounded if they are not homologated. Currently, the position of the prosecutor’s office is that the vehicles will not be returned to its owner…
