Norwegian police warn parents over electric scooter safety

Norwegian police and road safety organizations are urging parents to take greater responsibility for their children's use of electric scooters as the school year begins. Authorities are particularly concerned about illegal modifications, such as using mobile apps or physical changes to batteries and parts to increase vehicle speed.

Police traffic coordinator Torstein Vestby warned that if an electric scooter is found to be illegally modified or has technical defects, it will be confiscated on the spot along with the user's mobile phone. For users over the age of 15, violations may result in criminal charges.

Safety guidelines from Trygg Trafikk and Statens vegvesen emphasize that the minimum age for riding an electric scooter is 12, and helmets are mandatory for those under 15. Parents are encouraged to ensure children understand traffic rules, such as yielding to pedestrians and following right-of-way regulations, and to monitor the purchase of vehicles to prevent the acquisition of high-powered, illegal models.