Electric scooter safety and liability concerns in Europe

Authorities in Norway and Denmark are raising alarms regarding the safety and legal implications of electric scooter use among children and adolescents.

In Norway, officials and insurance organizations have highlighted a significant gap in mandatory liability insurance. While approximately 500,000 private electric scooters exist in the country, only about 120,000 are insured. Because children under 16 account for roughly one-third of accidents involving uninsured scooters, parents face potential liability for damages or injuries that can reach millions of kroner. Consequently, there are calls to raise the minimum riding age from 12 to 16.

Similarly, in Denmark, the Road Safety Council and medical professionals are urging parents to monitor their children’s usage. Reports indicate that many minors are engaging in hazardous behavior, such as using scooters modified to exceed the 20 km/h speed limit. Despite regulations requiring riders to be at least 15 years old when riding without an adult, children as young as nine have been observed in traffic, leading to serious injuries and hospitalizations.