Introduction
Electronic means of transport are becoming far more common than ever before with the likes of electric scooters available for any to purchase with minimal fuss. The most common use for these occurs along pedestrian walkways which have the potential to cause issues.
Legislation concerning these types of electronic scooters and other 'vehicles' has been appearing in numerous jurisdictions globally with multiple countries banning their use in public walking areas to avoid accidents.
The UAE has taken recent steps in deciding what their approach is on this front. Further to this, there may be more regulations incoming, all of which will be discussed further in this legal update. The issue is a very modern one, and so the path taken will be very interesting.
Electronic Scooter Ban
Recently, the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a ban on the use of electric scooters along public walkways. The primary reason for this is so as to ensure the safety of people on foot. While they are becoming more common to see in public, they are indeed not common.
Due to the accessible nature of electronic scooters, the ban currently only encompasses walkways, and the RTA has further stated that a study shall occur to analyze the full impact and potential threat of these devices
A big discussion in recent times has concerned the fact that electronic scooters are considered by some to be 'vehicles'. If this is accepted to be the case, the footpaths would be no place for them.
However, this idea is still up for much debate and is a crucial area for the UAE to discuss and form a more significant legislative system for the matter.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.