Source: Electrek

Germany is planning to tighten governance around shared e-scooters, by making operators directly liable to pay for damages their vehicles cause. Riders will also be presumed at fault in incidents, unless they can prove otherwise.

The law being proposed will cover accident accountability, as well as improperly parked vehicles.

For accidents, it includes an aim to sort out a legal loophole which has often meant that accident victims do not receive compensation. Currently, in Germany, the injured victims normally have to prove the rider’s role in their injury, which is very difficult if the rider leaves the scene of the accident or can’t be identified.

The new legislation being proposed would put strict liability on the rental operators as the registered e-scooter owners. Riders would also be presumed that they are at fault for injuries unless they can prove otherwise.

For improperly parked scooters, Germany plans to crack down on holding accountability for actions for vehicles blocking sidewalks and creating hazards for pedestrians.

Germany’s Federal Ministry for Justice and Consumer Protection has stated that the proposed change comes from the belief that if companies profit from their shared micromobility services, they could also take on the risks which those services create.

Increasing e-scooter usage in Germany

The tightening in governance comes after surging e-scooter use across Germany, with the amount of e-scooters insured growing from 180,000 in 2020 to almost one million in 2023.