Albania places a temporary ban on electric scooters

Source: BGNES

Albania’s state police has placed a temporary ban on electric scooters, following an announcement at a meeting between Interior Minister Albana Kochiu and State Police Director General Ilir Proda. According to Minister Kochiu, the ban will remain in place until a comprehensive set of rules regarding their movement, rider age, and speed, are in place.

The ban came into place on Monday 13 October, and has been instigated in light of high numbers of reported incidents involving electric scooters. During the announcement, Minister Kochiu stated:

“Today, I asked the state police to temporarily ban the use of electric scooters on the roads. I would also like to inform anyone who sees them as a business model for daily rental not to invest in this activity. The permit will only be issued after this process is complete and will only be valid for personal use of these vehicles. We will draw up clear and applicable rules for everyone. We will determine which lanes, roads, or spaces can be used by electric scooters and where they cannot, as well as the criteria for age of use, protective measures such as helmets, lighting, and permitted speed. However, until a complete regulatory framework is in place, the public interest requires immediate intervention.”

Ilir Proda stated:

“Starting today, the state police will join an operation to stop the movement of these vehicles, and we therefore ask citizens for their understanding during this process. We conducted a detailed analysis of this phenomenon and came to the conclusion that the use of electric scooters poses an immediate risk to public safety. Suffice it to mention that in 2024 alone, emergency services recorded 991 accidents involving them. Among these cases, there were fatalities and very serious injuries.”