According to police findings, the minor was riding without a protective helmet and without the authorization required by law. In addition, the vehicle she was riding could reach a speed of up to 61 km/h—well above the permissible limits for single-person personal transport devices.
– The 13-year-old lost control of the electric scooter while riding and fell, hitting the road surface – reports Anna Kublik-Rościszewska. – The girl was taken to a hospital in Legnica – the spokeswoman adds.
The court will decide on the consequences of the incident and any liability of the parents or guardians.
– In the case of the 13-year-old, we will forward the materials to the family court – police spokeswoman Anna Kublik-Rościszewska said.
Main rules for using scooters
Under the applicable regulations, an electric scooter rider is required to use a bicycle path or bicycle lane if one is available in the direction of travel. If no such facilities are available, riding on the road is permitted provided that vehicle traffic on it does not exceed 30 km/h. It should be remembered that the maximum permitted speed for electric scooters is 20 km/h, regardless of where they are being ridden.
On the sidewalk, but at walking speed and giving way to pedestrians
Exceptionally, when there are no bicycle paths and no road with a low speed limit, using the sidewalk or pedestrian path is permitted. The condition is that the sidewalk runs alongside a road on which vehicles travel at more than 30 km/h. In such a case, the scooter user must travel at a speed close to walking speed, exercise particular caution, give way to pedestrians and not obstruct their movement.
The regulations categorically prohibit riding an electric scooter across pedestrian crossings. Riding after consuming alcohol is also strictly prohibited, with the aim of increasing road safety.
How to park a scooter?
An important aspect of the regulations is also how scooters are parked. The rider is required to leave it in a designated place on the sidewalk. If there is no such place, the scooter must be positioned as close as possible to the outer edge of the sidewalk, parallel to it, and in such a way that at least 1.5 meters of free space remains for pedestrians.
Legal consequences
All scooter users, regardless of age, are required to comply with traffic regulations and are legally liable for violating them.
Failure by a minor to comply with these regulations constitutes an act of demoralization for which that person is accountable before the Family and Juvenile Court. This may concern a child up to the age of 13 using a scooter, a child without a bicycle card, or a child violating other traffic regulations while riding.
The parents or guardians are responsible for knowingly making a scooter available to a child who is not authorized to use it (due to age or lack of a bicycle card). Under Article 96 § 1(2) of the Code of Petty Offenses, an owner or guardian who allows a person without the required authorization to drive a vehicle on a public road is subject to a restriction of liberty or a fine of no less than PLN 1,000.