Italian lawmakers bring strict rules for e-scooters after safety issues

Italyʼs lawmakers have made big-time changes to e-scooter rules with a new law that got approved today. The much-needed update means riders cant just hop on without proper gear anymore

The new rules say that e-scooter users must wear helmets and get insurance (which is a first-time thing for Italy). The law also hits hard on those who leave their scooters lying around — its gonna cost them more in fines now

Numbers from last year show why these changes were needed: over 3000 people got hurt while riding e-scooters and sadly 21 didnt make it. Thats quite a jump from two years ago when there were about 2900 injuries

Weʼre putting an end to wild scooters

The rules are part of a bigger road-safety package that Salvini pushed through. E-scooters will need license-plates and riders cant use them in bike-lanes pedestrian zones or outside cities. Other places in Europe already made similar moves — Paris got rid of rental e-scooters about a year ago; Madrid followed their lead this fall

The law brings some other big changes too:
* Tougher punishments for drunk-driving
* Up to 7 years jail time for leaving animals on roads
* Higher fines for breaking traffic rules

Giorgio Cappiello from Bird (a rental company) thinks its too much: he says their companys scooters havent caused any problems in the past couple years. But the government says these rules will make roads safer for everyone