Nearly 400 e-scooter accidents in 7 months: 14-year-old dies
The number of accidents involving personal mobility devices has risen compared to last year, with the most tragic case occurring in June in Metković.
The number of accidents involving personal mobility devices has risen compared to last year, with the most tragic case occurring in June in Metković.
In the first seven months of 2026, there were 384 traffic accidents involving personal mobility devices, such as electric scooters and bicycles, on Croatian roads. This is an increase compared to the same period last year when 360 such accidents were recorded, the Ministry of the Interior confirmed as of July 28.
The statistics reveal a worrying trend. This year, 216 people were slightly injured in these accidents, compared to 178 last year. Serious injuries were sustained by 92 people, which is nonetheless fewer than last year's 122 seriously injured. The darkest figure comes from Metković, where in June 2026, a 14-year-old lost control of an electric scooter and died after falling onto the roadway. Last year, there were no fatalities in such accidents.
Legal rules for riding electric scooters in Croatia were regulated back in 2022. The regulations are clear: the rider must be at least 14 years old, a protective helmet is mandatory, and the vehicle must not exceed 25 kilometers per hour nor have an electric motor stronger than 0.6 kW. Additionally, only one person is allowed on a scooter, and in conditions of reduced visibility, wearing a reflective vest is mandatory.
Despite this, everyday reality is different. The Ombudsman for Children's Office warns of frequent rule violations. "We often encounter cases where children ride without protective gear, operate vehicles before reaching the required age or conditions, drive vehicles with greater power and inappropriate speed, and frequently multiple children ride on the same scooter, endangering their own safety and that of others in traffic," the Office stated.
The Ombudsman emphasizes the crucial role of parents in developing traffic culture and appeals to them not to buy scooters for children who do not meet the requirements. "If parents adhere to speed limits in traffic, wear seat belts, helmets, and other protective gear, children will more easily accept and follow the rules," the Office said. Their stance is supported by the proceedings "Children's Rights in Traffic" published in late 2025, in which young people identified parents as the most important role models for behavior in traffic.
Stipo Mlinarić (DP), chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, advocates for an urgent national campaign in schools and public spaces. "I myself have many times seen minors speeding on electric scooters without helmets, often two on one scooter," Mlinarić said, calling for increased police oversight. His call aligns with an earlier request from the Ombudsman for Children's Office, which welcomed last year's decision by the Ministry of the Interior to intensify surveillance of scooter riders.
The results of intensified oversight are already visible. In early July 2026, police in Split confiscated nine scooters in Kaštela and Split, most often for riding without a helmet, and among the offenders were minors. At the same time, Zagreb police confiscated five scooters in a preventive operation that did not meet technical requirements. In late July, police on Brač and Hvar confiscated scooters from two men and a nine-year-old.
Due to the increasing number of incidents, the Glas party proposes amendments to the Road Traffic Safety Act. They demand a complete ban on riding electric scooters and bicycles on sidewalks and in pedestrian zones. On the other hand, the Ombudsman for Children's Office emphasizes the need for a systemic solution, the construction of dedicated traffic lanes that would physically separate scooters from pedestrians and cars, thereby significantly reducing the number of accidents.
