Dubai: Should electric scooters be registered? Experts ask that license plates be given to them – News
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Electric scooters have become ubiquitous throughout Dubai – they are relatively cheap and easy to get, with no registration required. They are widely accepted as first and last mile services, replacing users’ need to walk or spend on other means of transportation. However, as its popularity grew, so did the potential risks to the general public, leading experts to apply for registration of this micromobility device.
At a recent community dialogue on road safety organized by Dubai Police, in which Khaleej Times participated, the need to register electric scooters was discussed. Currently, all electric scooter users must obtain a permit from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
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Those who already own a motorcycle or driving license do not need to obtain an RTA electric scooter permit. However, while drivers need a permit, battery-powered electric scooters do not need to be registered, unlike motorized vehicles, although electric scooters are also promoted as a form of transportation.
Khaleej Times participated in a debate organized by Dubai Police on road safety
Unique identification or license plate
“The idea of registering electric scooters has several advantages,” said Thomas Edelmann, founder and CEO of RoadSafetyUAE.
The suggestion is to have a license plate or a unique ID that identifies the electric scooter, in addition to the driver obtaining an individual driving license.
“Firstly, the move (to register electric scooters) will help raise awareness that they are not toys, but legitimate vehicles involved in road traffic, which is expected to result in more considerate and safer driving,” Edelmann stressed.
Thomas Edelmann
“The registration will eliminate the anonymity of drivers, since both the electric scooter and the driver can be identified in the event of an accident. It will also allow only permitted vehicles to circulate on the road with a specific speed, size/dimensions, type (standing /sitting) and other relevant specifications,” he added.
For insurance purposes
Registering electric scooters will also make insurance coverage easier. Riders can opt for voluntary insurance that covers personal injuries, such as fractures or dental injuries, in the event of an electric scooter accident.
Edelmann highlighted that “the registry will give more structure to those who will enforce the overall e-scooter regulation regime”, such as the police and the RTA, to monitor parking violations, speed limits and specifications.
Growing security concerns
There is growing concern about road safety as accidents have become fatal. Last year, Dubai Police reported five deaths and 29 injuries in several electric scooter accidents between January and August 2023. Major General Saif Almazrouei, director of Dubai Police’s Traffic Department, added that more were imposed of 10,000 fines for electric scooter drivers who made mistakes in the same period.
Risky behaviors include not wearing a helmet, carrying a passenger or a heavy load that could unbalance the electric scooter and exceeding the speed limit, as some modified electric scooters exceed the maximum speed limit of 60 km/h.
Several KT readers have shared their unpleasant experiences with electric scooters. Italian expat Simone Majocchi said: “I have lived in Dubai for four years and I learned that the rules must be respected and that everyone is asked to be good residents. But there are some reckless electric scooter drivers who move at high speed with their headphones as if they were on a racing circuit.
“Pedestrians are the ones who have to get out of their way no matter how busy the ‘no traffic zone’ is,” he added.
“They (electric scooter drivers) dangerously dodge pedestrians, they even hit me once in an incident a few weeks ago. They bully behind people walking and demand to be given priority on sidewalks, which is ridiculous” , added Saifuddin SF Khomosi, who also requested that the authorities consider requiring registration of electric scooters.
Residents support more regulations
In a recent online survey conducted by Khaleej Times following the ban on introducing electric scooters on Dubai Metro and Tram trains, 71 percent or 3,200 out of 4,500 respondents supported the idea of having more regulations for electric scooters in the United Arab Emirates.
Several residents and motorists complain that electric scooters are parked indiscriminately, blocking sidewalks and taking up parking spaces in some popular residential communities in Dubai.
Dr. Mostafa Al Dah
Dr Mostafa Al Dah, an Emirati transport safety researcher and former head of Dubai Police’s Traffic Studies Section, noted that there are several studies “that should encourage local authorities around the world to enact appropriate regulations to address safety issues related to micromobility devices.”
In terms of accident prevention when registering an electric scooter, Dr Al Dah noted that “it is an assumption that needs further study and modelling.”
Will it be free?
As for the cost of registering electric scooters, experts suggest that it can be done for free. In fact, the RTA provides driving licenses for free and not as a revenue-generating exercise.
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