Insurers welcome proposal for mandatory helmets on e-scooters

The Insurance Association Malta (IAM) has welcomed proposed legislation that will make helmets mandatory for e-scooter riders.

The association said it had first proposed mandatory helmet use seven years ago, in its recommendations submitted during the government's 2019 public consultation on micromobility.

It was only last week that Transport Minister Chris Bonett signalled government will adopt the measure following an accident where a 15-year-old girl riding an e-scooter was left in critical condition.

In 2019, IAM also warned that allowing riders to switch between roads and pedestrian areas increased the risk of injury. 

While welcoming the proposed measure, IAM said the government should revisit its other recommendations it had made during the consultation.

These include developing more dedicated cycle lanes and safer infrastructure, improving pedestrian protection, and restricting e-scooter use on footpaths and pavements.

The association had also questioned the proposed 10km/h speed limit for e-scooters on footpaths, recommending that it be reduced to 6km/h.

“While compulsory helmets are an important safety measure, they are only part of the solution. The wider concerns we raised at the time remain relevant and should be considered as part of the proposed changes,” IAM said.

The IAM insisted on the need for stronger enforcement of existing rules, particularly those prohibiting e-scooters on designated arterial roads and requiring riders to be licensed and at least 16 years old.

“We hope the minister's initiative will lead to a wider review of e-scooter safety. Encouraging alternative forms of transport is important, but ensuring the safety of riders, pedestrians and other road users must always come first,” the association said.