The Government proposes legislation on micromobility to improve traffic safety

The Government submitted a legislative proposal relating to micromobility to Parliament on 6 March 2025. The aim of the proposal is to improve the safety of electric scooters and other micromobility vehicles.

The Programme of Prime Minister Orpo's Government states that legislation guiding the use of electric scooters and other micromobility will be drawn up during the government term. In addition, towns and municipalities will be provided with tools for managing micromobility.

"Finland's objective is that by 2050 there would be no road traffic fatalities or serious injuries. This is a very ambitious goal, and reaching it also requires that the use of electric scooters is brought under control. Reckless driving under the influence must be stopped, even on electric scooters. As a solution, we propose a blood alcohol content (BAC) limit. We need not only legislative amendments but also more effective communication and traffic education," says Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport and Communications.

A micromobility licence provides municipalities with an effective way of guiding micromobility services

The Government proposal includes several amendments to national legislation aimed at guiding and overseeing micromobility and significantly improving its road safety. The proposal is also expected to reduce the costs of damage and the burden on health care caused by micromobility.

The proposal suggests introducing a micromobility licence, which would provide municipalities with an efficient and flexible tool for guiding micromobility services in the municipality’s area. In practice, professional rental of electric scooters or other micromobility vehicles would require a micromobility licence granted by the municipality in the future. The licence conditions would allow municipalities and cities guide and oversee, among other things, the operating times, parking and driving speeds of rental vehicles, for example if this was necessary for road safety, accessibility or road maintenance.

The Government also proposes a maximum permitted blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.5 per mille for riding light electric vehicles and motorised bicycles. In addition, traffic controllers would be given the opportunity to breathalise cyclists and riders of light electric vehicles or motorised bicycles in traffic.

Furthermore, the proposal would increase the traffic penalty fee for users of micromobility vehicles and introduce new traffic control devices to enable the steering of light electric vehicles separately from bicycles.

Compliance with traffic rules, ability to control the vehicle and not drink or drug driving reduce risks of electric scooters

Several acts already apply to the use of electric scooters and other light electric vehicles. The Road Traffic Act, the Vehicles Act, the Consumer Protection Act, the Consumer Safety Act and, the most recent one, the Motor Liability Insurance Act are the key acts applying to micromobility service providers and service users. The same traffic rules apply to riding an electric scooter as to a bicycle. Riders must comply with traffic rules and signs. An electric scooter may be used on cycle paths or lanes and, in the absence of these, on the road or verge – but not on the pavement. 

Passengers may not be carried on an electric scooter or a light electric vehicle unless it has a passenger seat. The rider may not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, tired or in another similar condition that would weaken the ability to use the vehicle safely.

What’s next?

A referral debate on the Government proposal now submitted to Parliament will be held in a Parliament plenary session. The date of the session will be announced on the Parliament website (upcoming plenary sessions). 

After the referral debate, the proposal will be taken to a parliamentary committee. After the committee submits its report, the process will continue in a plenary session.

The statutory amendments are intended to take effect on 1 May 2025.

Inquiries:

Sofia Johansson, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 090, [email protected]
Juuso Suomento, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342071, [email protected]