[단독] New driver’s license for electric scooters, not allowed for under 16s

The Administrative Security Committee of the National Assembly and the National Police Agency decided to establish a new driver’s license for personal transportation (PM, maximum speed 25 km / h, weight less than 30 kg), such as electric skateboards. To this end, it was decided to reorganize the related laws after a practical review for about a year.

The general meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee of the National Assembly will be held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 3rd. At the meeting, an amendment to the Road Traffic Law was approved, requiring the acquiring a motor vehicle license when operating an electric float board. Reporters of national companies

According to the record of the Law Review Subcommittee on the 2nd, which was obtained by JoongAng Ilbo on the 3rd, the members of the government and opposition administration committee and the National Police Agency gathered opinions on the establishment of a license exclusively for PM in the future as they discussed a revised Road Traffic Law bill that strengthens regulations related to electric scooters. However, considering that it will take about a year to prepare for the establishment of a PM license, it was decided to change the law so that only those with a prime mover license can drive a PM as an electric scooter.

The revision of the Highway Traffic Law with such content passed the so-called amendment the day before and passed the general meeting of the Council that day. If the amendment passes through the Legislative Judicial Council and the plenary session passes on the 9th, those under 16 who cannot obtain a main motor license in the future cannot use the electric float table. There is also a basis for imposing a fine if you do not wear protective equipment such as a helmet while riding an electric board or if you exceed the capacity.

The number of monthly use of shared skateboards. Graphic = Reporter Jaemin Shin [email protected]

The main objective of this revised bill is to strengthen the ‘Electric Skateboard Deregulation Law’ (Revised Road Traffic Law), which was established to take effect on the 10th. The objective of the revised Road Traffic Law was to allow that people 13 years and older will use the electric float board on bicycle roads without a driver’s license. However, as safety concerns spread as traffic accidents involving electric scooters have recently risen, they will re-examine a law that has yet to be enforced after seven months of review of the law.

In this sense, the National Police Agency was struggling with the mandate to obtain a driver’s license included in the bill reviewed in the so-called National Security Council the day before. Song Min-heon, deputy head of the National Police Agency, said: “Before (the amendment) takes effect, we must be careful about the introduction of the driver’s license by revisiting the Road Traffic Law.” “In the end, considering the need for face-to-face education for safety education, I think it is quite appropriate to establish a new PM license.”

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Regarding this, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hae-sik said: “Because the most important thing is the safety of teenagers traveling in PM, the reason the revised law should not be implemented and changed again is a statement ignoring changes in the situation. ” I know it will take about a year. During that period, let’s get a prime mover license, and when you’re perfectly prepared, let’s move on to the PM license. “Park Wan-soo, Chairman of the People’s Power subcommittee, said:” In Germany, we also have to get a license from bicycle, but in the case of PM, there is speed, so it is desirable to introduce a licensing system. ”

However, the reinforcement of the speed limit (maximum 25 km / h → 20 km / h), which was included in the original draft (representative proposal of the legislator of the Democratic Party Cheon Jun-ho), was omitted in the amendment that approved the Council the same day. Congressman Chun told a press conference that day: “According to recent national studies, if the electric board hits a pedestrian at 25 km / h, the probability of serious injury to the pedestrian is 95%.” I will prepare and continue to promote it. ”

Graphic = Kim Eun-kyo [email protected]

The government and the ruling party are also scrambling with measures to fill the gaps, as the revised bill is implemented four months after enactment. On the 30th of last month, the Ministry of Lands, Infrastructure and Transport announced plans to strengthen PM’s security management, such as limiting the rental age to 18 years or more, and allowing rentals only when they have a motor vehicle license to people from 16 to 17 years old. The Democratic Party plans to prepare additional regulations, such as requiring safety and insurance training for electric scooters. Congressman Chun held a press conference the day before and urged the bill to pass, saying, “There is no value more important than the safety of our children and people.”

On the other hand, the industry is getting confused anticipating deregulation, but faces stricter regulations. If the number of users falls dramatically due to tightening regulations, the damage to the industry is expected to be negligible. An industry official who requested anonymity said: “It is true that the rental service for protective equipment such as helmets is not easy to operate due to frequent loss accidents.”

Reporter Ha Junho, Internal Reporter Kim Soohyun [email protected]