Scooter Laws That Could Also Apply to Drivers

E-scooters are governed by hundreds of regulations aimed at improving the safety of riders and pedestrians. Is it time to apply them to cars, too?

2 minute read

September 2, 2021, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Tilikum Crossing

Bob Pool / Shutterstock

[Updated September 2, 2021] Streetsblog's Kea Wilson questions why, while cities have scrambled to create "hundreds of policies to minimize the downside risks of the micromobility revolution, like scofflaw riders who strike pedestrians at intersections and scooter-cluttered sidewalks rendered impassable to people who use assistive devices," no new laws have been aimed at drivers–those who cause 80 percent of fatal scooter crashes and close to 40,000 fatalities on U.S. roads every year.

Wilson outlines five scooter regulations that could be applied to cars:

  • Top speed limits: with the top speed limit in the country at 85 miles per hour, Wilson asks, why should manufacturers produce cars that top out at 112 miles per hour?
  • Geofencing: "Following the news that the European Union would require all new car models to come equipped with geofence-equipped speed governors that would force drivers to (mostly) obey local limits, some street safety advocates wondered whether the U.S. should do the same thing."
  • Stricter height and weight limits: while weight limits for scooters are strictly regulated, American cars and trucks are growing bigger and bigger, with few legal limits on their size.
  • Regular safety tests: "For years, most scooter companies have either required their riders to take a brief safety quiz before unlocking a vehicle, or at least incentivized them to learn more about safe scooting with offers of discounted rides, cheap helmets, and other perks." Why not implement a similar system for drivers, mandating the "[i]nterlock ignition devices, ambient alcohol sensors, driver monitoring systems, and a ton of other tech" that already exists?
  • Helmet laws: "no U.S. community has never enforced a mandatory car-helmet law, even though car crashes are the second most common cause of traumatic brain injuries every year." The history of Streetsblog's recent editorial coverage of helmet laws should make is clear that helmet laws are included on this list is to point out the absurdity of using helmets laws as a replacement for meaningful systemic safety reform.

Tuesday, August 31, 2021 in Streetsblog USA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

15 minutes ago - Greater Good Magazine

US and Texas flags flying in front of Texas state capitol dome in Austin, Texas.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness

A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

1 hour ago - The Texas Tribune

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

2 hours ago - Inside Climate News