Police find nine non-compliant e-scooters near Rae schools

Police found nine non-compliant electric scooters and 38 young people riding without helmets during a traffic operation near four schools in Rae municipality, ERR reported.

The operation began before the school day at Kindluse School. Police focused on scooters capable of travelling faster than the permitted 25 kilometres per hour.

“These are not light electric vehicles. In principle, they qualify as motor vehicles, which require a driving licence in the relevant category and registration,” said Mari-Liis Mölder, a group leader at the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. She added that fatal accidents most often involved such vehicles.

According to police, scooters that can reach 50 to 65 kilometres per hour are frequently found instead of the permitted 25 kilometres per hour. Officers have also recorded speeds of 75, 80 and 90 kilometres per hour.

“I feel that this problem has not been resolved. Awareness is growing, but if we continue to find more than 10 violations near every school, the problem remains serious,” Mölder said.

Schools have repeatedly discussed traffic safety with students. Kindluse School deputy head Laura Vaikma said the school sends information to parents and direct messages to students, and addressed scooter safety at a joint gathering at the start of the school year.

Children without previous violations receive a warning, and their parents are asked to collect the scooter. If there have been earlier warnings, police may begin formal proceedings. On Monday, officers did so in the case of one 14-year-old.