A Bill has been submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly to amend the Highway Traffic Law, which when passed will make motor third-party liability insurance compulsory for electric scooters.
Apart from the mandatory insurance, the proposed legislative amendment requires the scooters to have licence plates to enable tracking them. The new legislation will directly affect 8m active electric scooter users in Türkiye, according to local news reports.
Currently, there are no regulations covering the use of electric scooters, such as insurance, licence plates, technical inspections or driving licences. This means that users who are at fault in accidents have to pay for damages out of pocket.
Electric Scooter Association President Cihan Özkan said that within the scope of the law, not only companies providing electric scooter services but also individuals will be required to have insurance for their electric scooters.
Due to increasing scooter use and traffic safety concerns, it is expected that driver licensing will be on the agenda. Experts emphasise the importance of educating scooter users and assessing their driving skills, especially in large cities.
Meanwhile, issues plaguing electric scooters are seen too with 50cc motorcycles, which are used extensively. At present, there is no insurance requirement for these vehicles, which can be ridden with a licence.