Carinthian police step up checks on modified e-scooters

Police in Carinthia are increasing checks on modified e-scooters, after finding some travelling at more than 80 km/h, ORF reports. Three new roller test benches have been in use since early September. E-scooters are permitted to travel at a maximum of 25 km/h.

Police have already taken several modified scooters off the road. Dieter Goritschnig of the traffic inspection said checks this week recorded one scooter travelling at 70 km/h, while others had exceeded 80 km/h.

Goritschnig said scooters can be made to go faster using button combinations on a connected mobile phone or on the handlebars. Deputy head of Carinthia’s traffic police, Hannes Micheler, said the checks were intended to improve road safety rather than issue fines. He warned that high speeds are particularly dangerous on scooters with small wheels.

Officers do not issue fines when stopping riders. Instead, every violation is reported to the district authorities. Police plan to run targeted checks regularly over the coming weeks and aim to have at least one roller test bench in every district and city next year.