It will both result in shorter journey times and fewer traffic accidents if motorists are prohibited from speeding over 30 km/h and e-wheels only speed at 20 km/h.
The NGO European Road Safety Council (ETSC) calls on the EU to ban speeds above 30 km/h in urban areas where motorists share the road with cyclists.
The purpose of the proposal is to improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents in more densely populated areas. According to ETSC, lower speed limits can also lead to smoother traffic flow.
The ETSC recommends that the base speed for electric scooters be lowered to 20 km/h and for other motorized vehicles to 30 km/h.
At the same time, they propose raising the age limit for using electric scooters to 16 years. About the proposed speed limits, researchers George Yannis and Eva Michelaraki write:
– There is a myth that a speed limit of 30 km/h would lead to increased traffic jams and increased costs. It is not supported by research, it says.
They refer, among other things, to experiences from Switzerland, where lower speeds have resulted in fewer traffic jams and shorter journey times.
Wales has also introduced a lower speed limit of 20mph (about 32km/h) as standard in all urban areas, which has led to fewer accidents and reduced car injuries by 20 per cent.
In several EU countries there are already similar initiatives. Denmark, for example, has a speed limit of 20 km/h for electric scooters. While Austria has passed a law that gives cities better opportunity to lower the speed to 30 km/h.
ETSC wants all EU countries to implement similar bans and introduce sanctions for the manipulation of speed limiters.
In addition, ETSC emphasizes increased safety requirements for electric carriages, including better braking performance, limited acceleration and requirements for horns and front and rear lights.
They also want the EU to introduce requirements for automatic braking systems for electric bicycles, inspired by the rules for passenger cars and heavier motor vehicles.
In some countries such as Norway and Finland, fewer injuries have already been reported following the introduction of stricter regulations for electric trams, including restrictions on their speed at night.
