Unified Road Safety Day “Follow the Rules!”
On March 31, 2023, the Republic of Belarus will hold a Unified Road Safety Day under the slogan "Drive According to the Rules!", aimed at preventing unsafe movement on personal mobility devices.
The use of personal mobility devices on public roads is becoming a serious source of increased danger, both for the individuals operating such devices and for other road users. New requirements of the Traffic Regulations came into force on October 27, 2022, thanks to which electric gadgets have been assigned a generalized concept, the procedure for their operation has been regulated, and the individuals operating them have been granted certain rights and obligations.
Electric scooters, hoverboards, segways, and monowheels are now called "personal mobility devices" (PMDs) – and are understood as devices or appliances that are not vehicles, powered by an engine, and intended for individual or joint (if specially equipped seating is available) use by pedestrians.
IMPORTANT!
Personal mobility devices: are not considered vehicles. However, they must have a functional braking system and steering wheel (if applicable);
when moving, pedestrians are recommended to use protective gear (helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, etc.);
can be ridden on bike lanes, and in their absence – on sidewalks, pedestrian paths, or road shoulders, without creating obstacles for pedestrians;
crossing the roadway on a personal mobility device must be carried out at a bicycle crossing or bike lane in compliance with the requirements for cyclists, and in the absence of a bicycle crossing or bike lane – at places intended for pedestrians;
the speed of movement must not exceed 25 km/h;
driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly
FORBIDDEN.
Pedestrians moving on PMDs are allowed:
not to dismount at crossings. At the same time, they must cross the roadway at the speed of a walking pedestrian, having previously made sure that entering (exiting) the roadway is safe;
to ride on the roadway in zones "with a speed limit";
to move on the roadway in residential and pedestrian zones;
It is FORBIDDEN to:
carry passengers outside of specially equipped
not to hold the steering wheel (if available);
to move at the age of under 14 years (except in pedestrian and residential zones);
when entering (driving onto) the roadway and moving along it, to perform actions that threaten road traffic safety.
IMPORTANT!
In the dark and in conditions of insufficient visibility, pedestrians on SPM must identify themselves with retroreflective elements, and the personal mobility device must be equipped with a headlight (lamp) that allows timely detection of obstacles to traffic.