The majority – 80 percent – of Latvian residents consider electric scooters dangerous in traffic, according to a survey cited by insurer Ergo and shared with LETA.
As the popularity of electric scooters has increased in recent years, so too has public concern about their impact on road safety. In comparison, an Ergo survey conducted in 2019 found that 73 percent of respondents considered electric scooters dangerous in traffic. This year, that number has risen to 80 percent.
A quarter (24 percent) of respondents reported that they or their relatives had experienced multiple situations where electric scooters posed a danger, while 15 percent said they had encountered such situations at least once.
Starting July 1, electric scooters in Latvia will be subject to compulsory third-party liability insurance (OCTA). Of the respondents, 39 percent believe the main benefit of OCTA will be compensation for injured parties in the event of an accident.
Meanwhile, 27 percent believe OCTA will encourage more responsible driving among scooter users, and 12 percent expect it to improve overall road safety and reduce the number of accidents and injuries. However, 21 percent think the introduction of OCTA for electric scooters will make no difference.
The survey was conducted by market research company Norstat on behalf of Ergo. A total of 1,010 Latvian residents aged 18 to 74 were surveyed online in May 2025.
Source: BNS
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