The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law on 23 June. The Act creates a new vehicle category called powered personal transporters (PPTs), which includes e-scooters and future micro-mobility devices as needed. Unlike mechanically propelled vehicles such as cars, trucks and buses, PPTs do not require registration, tax or motor insurance. PPT users do not require a licence and, accordingly, driver testing is not required.
My department is preparing regulations for e-scooters, which will set out the rules for their safe use in public places and the technical requirements and safety standards they must meet for legal use on Irish roads. E-scooters will remain illegal to use in public places and on public roads until these regulations are in place, and An Garda Síochána may seize them.
Amongst other requirements, the proposed regulations will set down that e-scooters intended for use on public roads must:
• have a maximum continuous rated power output of 400 W or less
• have a maximum net weight of 25 kg (including batteries)
• have a maximum design speed of 20 km/h or less
• have wheels with a minimum diameter of 200mm
• be fitted with front and rear lights and reflectors, brakes and a bell
• be fitted with a manufacturer’s plate certifying the power output, weight and design speed.
E-scooters may only be used by those over the age of 16 and may not be used on footpaths or in pedestrianised areas. A speed limit of 20 km/h will apply.
New draft technical regulations are subject to mandatory examination by the European Commission, for a minimum of 12 weeks, under the Single Market Transparency Directive (EU) 2015/1535. Draft regulations were submitted to this process in early July 2023 and will be introduced following completion of that scrutiny.
The Road Safety Authority is preparing a safety-focused communications campaign, aimed to coincide with the signing of the regulations, which is expected to be in Quarter 4 of 2023.
