New enforcement operation for personal mobility vehicles
The City Police are running an enforcement campaign until Sunday, 7 April, targeting personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) to reduce accidents, the number of victims and the severity of injuries.
The campaign will address infringements linked to inappropriate parking, distractions while riding, skipping red lights, not respecting pedestrian crossings and in general, conduct that poses a risk to all other users on pavements and road surfaces.
In terms of current regulations, PMV users must bear in mind the following:
- PMVs are classed as vehicles and cannot therefore circulate on pavements or in pedestrian areas.
- Distractions must be avoided, and riders are not allowed to look at mobiles or manipulate other devices while they circulate.
- Speeds must be reduced and extra care taken when going over pedestrian crossings, to avoid conflicts of use.
- The minimum age for riding a PMV or cycle with more than two wheels is 16 (if transporting passengers with a certified vehicle, users must be of age).
- Third-party insurance is obligatory for those engaging in commercial activity. Insurance is also recommended for people making personal use of these vehicles.
The improvement to road safety comes within the context of the strategic areas in the current Urban Mobility Plan. Road accident victims are avoidable and we need greater awareness so that all relevant parties can become more involved in achieving the goals of halving the number of deaths and serious injuries in line with the Road Safety Strategy 2030, with a view to achieving zero road deaths by 2050.
The latest road accident figures show that the number of accidents involving PMVs in 2023 fell by 10.8% compared to 2022. Even so, riders and passengers of two-wheeled motor vehicles, cyclists, PMV users and pedestrians accounted for 92% of those sustaining serious injuries.
