Dubai authorities are going to introduce a driver’s license for owners of e-scooters. Such a statement followed after several scooters got into serious accidents due to neglect of traffic rules.
It is noted that the popularity of scooters in Dubai is growing, including due to rising gasoline prices. So, residents began to use scooters more often to get from the metro station to the house or, conversely, to the office.
It is planned that the driver’s license will be issued by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, but the mechanism is still in development. It is noted that the department will also issue licenses for the vehicles themselves.
Currently, e-scooters can only be used on tracks specially adapted for them, outside of treadmills and footpaths. The maximum driving speed is 20 km/h. It is allowed to move only alone, in a reflective vest and helmet.
Scooters must maintain a safe distance from vehicles and pedestrians. Pedestrian crossings must be passed on foot, rolling a scooter nearby. Scooters may only be parked in designated parking areas. E-scooters can be used by drivers over the age of 16.
Failure to comply with the rules is punishable by law, among the penalties – confiscation of the vehicle for a period of 30 days, in case of repeated violations – for a longer period, as well as the imposition of fines for violation of traffic rules.