At night in Bratislava, a 16-year-old boy on an electric scooter raced police at a speed of 100 km/h. The underage driver ignored the patrol officers' demands to stop. The crazy ride only ended after the boy crashed into a truck, reports the publication Aktuality.
This incident happened at the same time as the preparation of major changes in Slovak law, which will significantly affect owners of powerful scooters. From September 1, 2026, models capable of speeds over 25 km/h will be completely banned in the country.
New Status and Strict Limits
Starting this autumn, legal electric scooters will officially receive the status of malé elektrické vozidlo (small electric vehicle). For your device to be legally on the streets, it must meet three technical conditions:
The maximum speed is blocked by the manufacturer at 25 km/h.
A factory plate with technical specifications is present.
No seat.
All powerful scooters or those with speeds unlocked by the owner that exceed these limits will be illegal. Riding such a vehicle in the city will be considered a serious violation of traffic rules.
Where You Can Ride and What the Fines Are
One of the most important innovations concerns pedestrian safety. According to the updated rules, scooter riders will be forbidden to ride on sidewalks — the only exception will be areas where it is explicitly allowed by a road sign.
You will have to ride only on bicycle paths or the right edge of the roadway. For not following these rules and for speeding, violators will face high fines. Depending on how much the speed is exceeded, the financial penalty can range from 500 to 1000 euros.
What Owners Should Do Now
Those who rent city scooters like Bolt or Tier do not need to worry — their speed is already limited by software. However, owners of private powerful models should pay attention to the current requirements.
Even now, before the ban in September, strict rules apply to heavy and fast scooters. If your vehicle weighs more than 25 kg or can structurally reach speeds faster than 25 km/h, you must have mandatory insurance (PZP). Without it, you risk a fine for lack of insurance even today.
