Driver’s license to be required for scooters

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will soon require electric scooter users to secure a permit and a driver’s license from the agency as part of regulations to protect e-scooter users, whom the government said are prone to road accidents.

LTO chief Edgar Galvante said an administrative order that consolidates guidelines for the measure was only awaiting approval of the Department of Transportation, which was also drafting a memorandum circular that will oversee the use of all electric-powered vehicles in the country.

“We have already submitted this administrative order and we are only waiting for its release to give guidance to authorized individuals who make use of these vehicles and for them to know what entails authorization to use these,” Galvante said in a radio interview.

The move came on the heels of a statement released by Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao, who said electric scooters can be deadly in the hands of irresponsible or incompetent drivers. Siao was also the author of House Bill 1987 or the Philippine Responsible Driving and Accountability Act.

To make sure e-scooter drivers are knowledgeable about road safety, Galvante said e-scooter drivers need to have driver’s licenses as provided in the pending administrative order.

“Generally, all vehicles that are either electric or gasoline-powered and making use of public roads need to be registered and its driver needs to have a driver’s license,” he said.

Aside from this, the LTO will also provide specific roads and routes that e-scooters can traverse as Galvante said they can’t be driven in public roads where they can go alongside vehicles that are much faster and heavier – a scenario that he said invites road accidents.

“We classify based on the weight of the vehicle, speed and which roads e-scooters can use because we all know that because of the nature of these types of vehicles, specifically their being lightweight, it can pose dangers to users if not used properly and not driven on the right roads,” Galvante explained.