“Go to school on an electric skateboard?” Educational opposition to the reduced age of 13 years

A citizen using a shared electric float board. News 1

Before the enforcement of the Road Traffic Law, which lowered the age for riding electric scooters to 13 years, teacher organizations demand a review and protest. There is concern that accidents could increase as the number of students riding electric scooters back and forth increases.

On the 9th, the Korean Federation of Teachers ‘Associations, Korea’s largest teachers’ organization, issued a statement, saying: “I am concerned that the law directly related to the life and safety of students has been amended without seeking opinions from the educational community and without taking action “. He urged, “Re-amend the law and create a system to ensure the safety of students.”

Shared electric skateboard parked in front of Exit 1 of Jamsil Station in Seoul. Reporter Park Min-je

The law challenged by the KFA is the revised road traffic law, which is expected to take effect on the 10th of next month. The revised Road Traffic Law lowered the age of use of electric scooters to 13, which was previously limited to 16. It means that even high school students will be able to ride the electric skateboard that only high school students or older can ride.

A prime mover license is not required. Previously, a motor vehicle license was required to ride an electric swim board. Since most youth do not have a motor vehicle license or a motor vehicle driver’s license, this provision has made it virtually difficult for minors to use the electric scooter. Although there is a regulation for the use of helmets, its effectiveness has decreased because the penalty provision has been eliminated.

The government explains that this is an amendment to revitalize the fast-growing smart mobility industry. In fact, the use of electric skateboards is increasing rapidly. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the total number of use of 12 shared electric skateboard services from March to August was 15.19 million, more than four times more than last year’s 3.5 million (July to December).

A father walks with a child’s hand in an apartment complex in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [중앙포토]

The educational world points out that a significant increase in the use of electric scooters by young people can increase the risk of accidents. A high school teacher in central Seoul said, “Even now, at school sites, students often perform unlicensed stunts with electric skateboards at the school site, so it’s a headache,” he said. “If the revised traffic law is implemented, accidents can increase.”

Accidents are also increasing rapidly as the use of electric scooters increases. According to the police, the number of electric skateboard-related accidents from 11 in 2017 increased about 40 times to 447 last year. Last month, a high school student was killed in an accident while driving an electric scooter without a license.

In the world of education, there is a voice of “disregard responsibility” on how to pass the personal means of transportation (such as an electric skateboard) and the content of the school principal to teach the related laws . A high school teacher in Gyeonggi-do said, “It is a story to loosen the law regulations and do school education,” he said.

There are also voices of concern among parents. Kim Mo (35), father of elementary school students, said: “We need to prevent children from riding electric scooters that seem dangerous even if adults ride on them,” he said. “Rather, the regulations need to be strengthened.” In the online community used primarily by parents, voices of safety concern dominate.

The educational community is urging the introduction of an electric skateboard license system, compulsory insurance underwriting, use of protective equipment and preparation of criminal provisions. A KFA official said: “We need to be able to reflect that in school regulations that prohibit going to and from school using electric scooters.”

Reporter Nam Gung-min [email protected]