General Information pertaining to E-Scooters
What requirements must the e-scooter meet to be allowed on public roads?
- Designed for maximum speed of not more than 20 km per hour.
- Two independent brakes.
- Lighting equipment must be type-approved and is regulated in the same way as bicycles (§ 67 Road Traffic Supplemental Regulations). Direction indicator signals are permitted.
- At least one ringing bell or other approved acoustic signal (e.g. horn).
- General approval or individual approval is required. Also a valid insurance number plate (in the form of a sticker) at the rear.
Who is authorized to drive the e-scooter and which rules must be observed?
- The minimum age is 14 years.
- Applies to the authorized areas for the use of the road:
Within the city limits:
Use of cycle paths, cycle lanes and cycle roads. If these are not available, you may ride on streets or in areas with reduced traffic.
Outside the city limits:
Same regulation such as within the city limits and additional use of side strips. The use of federal motorways and highways is prohibited.
- Use of other traffic areas only with the following additional sign:
- ONLY one person is authorized to ride on the e-scooter at any given time.
- The use of a mobile device during operation, or pulling a trailer is not allowed.
- For e-scooters the 0.05 BAC limit according to § 24a of the Road Traffic law and the .11 BAC limit according to § 316 of the Criminal Code applies.
- Driving under the influence of drugs is prohibited.
- A valid drivers’ license is not required.
- Please note the general terms and conditions of rental companies before utilizing rental scooters.
What else can you do to be safe on the road?
- DO NOT drive in bus lanes, on sidewalks or in pedestrian zones.
- Drive with foresight and always be ready to brake.
- Be aware of the blind spot you may be in. You could be overlooked.
- There is no obligation to wear a helmet. BUT: for your safety, wear a certified helmet to protect yourself from serious injury.
- Wear light-colored clothing with reflectors and drive with functional lighting.
- Always park the e-scooter without obstructing others.
- Secure your e-scooter in a suitable place with high-quality locks to prevent theft.
Where can I find the regulation on small electric vehicles?
The QR codes (websites) below will take you directly to the homepage of the police of Rhineland-Palatinate (www.polizei.rlp.de), the German Traffic Safety Council (www.dvr.de) and the Federal Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (www.bmvi.de). There you will find the electric vehicle regulation as well as further information about e-scooters.
Published by:
Landeskriminalamt Rheinland-Pfalz (State Criminal Police Office Rhineland-Palatinate)
Leitungsstab 3 – Polizeiliche Prävention (Management Staff 3 - Police Prevention)
Valanciaplatz 1-7
55118 Mainz
Tel: +49 (0) 6131 – 65-0
Email: LKA.LS3.MA@polizei.rlp.de
Homepage: www.polizei.rlp.de