NAF urges electric scooter safety checks before school starts

As schools prepare to reopen, the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) is urging parents to inspect their children's electric scooters to ensure compliance with safety regulations. The organization has called on police to conduct checks near schools to identify illegal vehicles.

Key regulations for electric scooters include a minimum age of 12, a mandatory helmet requirement for those under 15, and a maximum speed limit of 20 km/h. NAF warns that speed limiters are easily removed and some scooters are sold with higher speeds illegally.

Furthermore, NAF highlights a significant insurance gap: despite mandatory liability insurance being required for three years, four out of five private electric scooters are reportedly uninsured. If an uninsured scooter causes damage, the owner is financially liable, and if the rider is under 18, that responsibility may fall on the parents. The average cost of an accident is estimated at 100,000 NOK, while serious injuries can result in costs of several million NOK.