Authorities recently disclosed that four people died in e-scooter and bicycle-related accidents, prompting residents to demand stricter regulations for e-scooter riders to enhance public safety.
Fatal Accidents and Public Concerns
Residents are demanding stronger controls for e-scooter riders to increase public safety after authorities recently announced that four individuals died in accidents involving these vehicles and bicycles.
The story was told by Mohammed Abunael, a resident of Abu Dhabi and a marketing executive for a gifting company, who had witnessed individuals riding e-scooters carelessly on roads without the necessary protective gear. To connect with our merchants, I visit the bustling Deira markets once a week. The constant fear of being struck by an e-scooter rider makes it a living nightmare. Their riding styles are very unpredictable, and some of them are rather careless," the expat from Jordan remarked. In addition, he brought up incidents where cyclists were almost hit by cars because they were texting or otherwise distracted when crossing the street.
Over 7,800 traffic offenses were documented, and 4,474 e-scooters and bicycles were impounded in the first half of 2024. What this means is that every day, on average, there are 43 traffic offenses and 24 e-scooters or bicycles that are confiscated.
The Need for Enhanced Safety Measures
Residents are becoming more and more frustrated. "The streets are being wreaked havoc by e-scooter riders, particularly in Deira, Karama, and Al Barsha," said Hannan Khateeb, a sales manager at a grocery store chain. "Riders frequently put themselves and others in danger by riding carelessly and ignoring traffic signals. To avoid accidents, we must have more stringent regulations," she stressed.
Several safeguards have been put in place for e-scooter riders by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to combat careless driving. There should be speed limits, specific areas and lanes for e-scooters, increased public awareness efforts, and requirements for licensing and registration. There were penalties for those who did not comply with the RTA's requirement that they wear protective gear, including helmets. Some riders persist in disobeying these laws, Khateeb pointed out.
There are also worries about the safety of children. Overspeeding and rule violations should be punished more severely, according to Fatima El Hamed, a mother of two from Egypt who lives in Al Majaz, Sharjah. While my kids and I enjoy strolls along the corniche, we are constantly on edge due to the presence of e-scooters and bicycles that travel at high speeds. Many riders even travel quite fast on Dubai's Mamzar Beach, endangering runners and walkers. She emphasized the need for stricter regulations to ensure the safety of everyone on e-scooters.
Fatima elaborated by saying that the government should crack down harder on riders who cross roadways without looking, disobey traffic signals, and use their phones while driving.
More and more people are talking about how we need better safety measures for e-scooters because of the increasing number of events involving them. To solve the problem, locals think that public awareness efforts and stronger enforcement of current regulations are essential. Wearing a helmet and other protective gear, staying in one's lane, and obeying traffic signals are all part of this. The objective is to lessen the likelihood of accidents and deaths involving e-scooter riders as well as other road users.
Finally, the importance of stronger laws and their effective enforcement has been brought to light by the number of fatalities caused by e-scooter and bicycle accidents. To safeguard the public and avoid such catastrophes, more safety measures are required, as demonstrated by the experiences and worries of residents.
