Šebalj Brutally Honest About E-Scooters
Multiple Croatian rally champion warns about the rising number of accidents involving electric scooters and explains why small wheels are only part of the dangerous equation.
Multiple Croatian rally champion warns about the rising number of accidents involving electric scooters and explains why small wheels are only part of the dangerous equation.
Renowned Croatian motorsport figure and multiple national rally champion Juraj Šebalj has released a video on his YouTube channel Auto Show warning about the growing danger of electric scooters. In the video published on August 6, 2026, Šebalj pulls no punches as he reads through a series of news reports about scooter accidents that have marked the past two weeks.
"These are all news stories from the last two weeks," Šebalj emphasized, commenting on reports of collisions with cars, hits on pedestrians, and falls involving children. His message is clear: safety on a scooter requires much more than just the right gear.
Šebalj acknowledges that electric scooters have become extremely popular due to their convenience and price, allowing quick commutes without traffic jams. However, he also points out serious technical flaws. He cites small wheels as the biggest issue, making the scooter extremely sensitive to any unevenness in the road. "If you don't grip the handlebars firmly, it can be yanked out of your hand in an instant," he warned.
Unlike a bicycle, a scooter lacks natural stability at higher speeds, making it much easier for the rider to lose balance. Still, Šebalj believes the core of the problem lies elsewhere. "The biggest problem isn't the scooter itself or its design, but the rider. Or the user," he stated.
In the video, he also reminded viewers of Croatian regulations for electric scooters, which are often overlooked. According to the law, a scooter may reach a maximum speed of 25 km/h and have a motor with power up to 0.6 kW. Only individuals over the age of 14 are allowed to ride them, with a mandatory helmet. At night or when visibility is poor, it is mandatory to have lights on and wear a reflective vest, and using headphones while riding is prohibited.
He highlighted the issue of scooters that have had their speed limiters removed. Such scooters no longer fall under the category of personal mobility devices but are treated as mopeds or motorcycles, and police have the authority to confiscate them.
To illustrate the severity of the consequences, Šebalj showed a comparison in the video between falling off a scooter and falling from a building. According to this analysis, a fall from a scooter traveling at 25 km/h is like falling from the first floor of a building, while a fall at 50 km/h corresponds to a fall from the third floor. Some scooters, he warns, can reach significantly higher speeds.
At the end of the video, he offered several practical tips. He advises wearing a better helmet that also covers the face, riding in the same direction as traffic, reducing speed when passing through pedestrians, getting off the scooter at pedestrian crossings, and avoiding headphones while riding. He specifically warned parents not to give electric scooters to children under the age of 14.
