Electric scooters are popular – but do you know the rules?

Electric scooters have become a popular way of getting around, while they are also widely used for recreation. But anyone using an electric scooter in Denmark must follow a number of rules designed to protect both riders and other road users.

The maximum permitted speed for an electric scooter is 20 km/h. The scooter itself must not be capable of travelling faster than 20 km/h, and it must not be possible to adjust it to exceed that limit.

Riders must be at least 15 years old to use an electric scooter independently in areas covered by Danish traffic law. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult aged at least 18.

The requirement applies not only to public roads but also to cycle paths, residential streets, car parks and other areas covered by traffic regulations.

Children under 15 may ride alone only in designated play and residential areas or on private property.

Helmets are mandatory

Anyone riding an electric scooter must wear a bicycle helmet. Riding without one can result in a fine of DKK 1,500.

Electric scooter riders are generally required to follow the same traffic rules as cyclists. This means using a cycle lane where one is available and following traffic lights and signs intended for cyclists.

Riding on pavements, pedestrian paths and pedestrian crossings is not permitted. Riders must also signal when turning or stopping.

Only one person is allowed on an electric scooter at a time.

The scooter must have its lights switched on at all times, including during daylight hours. The front light must be white or yellow, while the rear light must be red. The lights must be clearly visible from a distance of at least 300 metres.

Violations of traffic rules can result in a DKK 1,000 fine, while police may confiscate electric scooters that do not comply with legal requirements.

Alcohol and drugs

The legal blood alcohol limit for electric scooter riders is 0.5 per mille, while there is zero tolerance for illegal drugs.

If police stop a rider suspected of exceeding the alcohol limit, the person will be arrested and required to provide a blood sample.

A blood alcohol level above 0.5 can result in a DKK 2,000 fine for a first offence. A second offence carries a DKK 4,000 fine, while a third offence can, in the most serious circumstances, result in imprisonment.

The same sanctions apply to riding an electric scooter with illegal drugs in the bloodstream.

Children and electric scooters

Although children under 15 are permitted to use electric scooters alone in certain designated areas and on private property, the Danish Road Safety Council recommends that parents do not allow children under 15 to ride electric scooters at all.

According to the council, children can have considerable difficulty controlling the speed and maintaining their balance at the speeds electric scooters can reach, increasing the risk of injury.