Electric scooter regulations tighten following safety incidents

New regulations in Serbia and recent incidents in Croatia have highlighted the legal and safety risks associated with high-powered electric scooters. In Serbia, a new government decree mandates that electric scooters be classified strictly by technical specifications rather than manufacturer labels. To qualify as a light electric vehicle, a scooter must have a motor power not exceeding 600 watts, a maximum design speed of 25 km/h, and a weight under 35 kg. Authorities warn that children under 14 are prohibited from operating these vehicles, and parents may face legal consequences from police or social services if they allow minors to use them.

In Croatia, a minor operating a 2000W electric scooter struck a child near a primary school in Bjelovar, resulting in injuries that required stitches. Because the vehicle's 2kW power exceeds the legal limit of 0.6kW for personal transport devices, police seized the scooter. This incident follows similar enforcement actions in Sveti Ivan Zelina and Istria, where high-powered scooters were confiscated and legal proceedings were initiated against parents.