An incident in North Vancouver may have parents wanting to pay closer attention to teens who have access to an e-scooter.
North Vancouver RCMP shared that a 12-year-old crashed an e-scooter into a vehicle on the 3100 block of Colwood Drive.
Frontline officers and paramedics attended the scene after the child was riding an e-scooter and allegedly struck a black Volkswagen Jetta.
The 12-year-old was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The incident has turned into an opportunity for the North Vancouver RCMP to educate the public on the rules regarding e-scooter riding, including the fact that you have to be at least 16 years old to ride an electric kick scooter.
Several violation tickets were issued to one of the child’s guardians, including for allowing them to ride an e-scooter despite being under 16.
Other rules regarding e-scooters include:
- You can’t ride on sidewalks or crosswalks unless a traffic control device allows for it
- Maximum speed of 25 km/h on a paved/level surface
- Must wear a helmet
- Must have a braking system that can stop the scooter quickly
- Must have a bell or horn
- Front and rear lights that have to be turned on between sunset and sunrise
North Vancouver RCMP didn’t reveal the value of the fines handed to the guardian, but it did provide a colourful image to highlight some of the general fines for safety violations.
North Vancouver RCMP
It also had a bit more to say about the incident for the sake of public safety.
North Vancouver RCMP Corporal Mansoor Sahak said that the department was thankful no one was seriously hurt.
“Police, first responders, and medical professionals have been raising the alarm on the dangers of e‑scooters and the serious injuries they could cause, and have conducted an extensive educational campaign targeting parents and students about the rules and regulations of e‑scooters,” Sahak added.