The Truth About E-Scooters in 2025: A Menace on Wheels or a Solution for Cities?
Updated: November 2025 | Reading time: 7 min
Electric scooters have become an unavoidable part of the urban mosaic from Ljubljana to Maribor. Their popularity has exploded in the last five years, offering a fast, cheap, and eco-friendly way to get around. However, this rise has been accompanied by a wave of media attention—headlines from RTV Slovenija and 24ur often portray e-scooters as silent killers on our roads.
But is the vehicle itself to blame for the accidents, or are other factors at play? We delved into the official data from the Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency (AVP) and the Police for the 2019–2025 period to separate facts from fear.
1. What Do the Numbers Say? (Statistics 2019–2024)
To understand the real picture, we must compare e-scooter accidents with other forms of transport. The table below shows the development of the safety situation in Slovenia. The increase in accidents is a logical consequence of the growing number of users, but the comparison with cars is telling.
| Year | Cars (accidents) | Cyclists (accidents) | E-scooters (accidents) | Fatalities (E-scooter) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ~6,000 | ~1,350 | Negligible | 0 |
| 2021 | 5,330 | ~1,350 | 109 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5,983 | 1,484 | 231 | 2 |
| 2023 | ~6,013 | ~1,400 | 238 | 0 |
| 2024* | ~6,100 | ~1,380 | 274 | 0 |
*Data for 2024 and trends for 2025 are based on reports from the Police and AVP (Siol.net, 2025; RTV SLO, 2025).
Data Interpretation
The data clearly shows that while the number of e-scooter accidents is rising, these figures are still just a fraction of the accidents caused by cars. In 2024, we recorded an increase in minor accidents, but zero fatalities among e-scooter riders, which indicates that they do not pose an extreme danger when used correctly.
2. It's Not the Scooter, It's the Culture
The main problem isn't the technology, but the behavior of the users. AVP analyses show that e-scooter riders are at fault in as many as 66% of cases.
- Inappropriate speed: Riding at full speed (25 km/h) on surfaces shared with pedestrians.
- Failure to yield right-of-way: Cutting off traffic at intersections because riders think they are "pedestrians" but are moving at the speed of a bicycle.
- Alcohol: The Police report an alarming number of intoxicated e-scooter riders on weekends (AVP, 2024).
Important: Most e-scooter accidents are so-called single-vehicle accidents. The rider falls on their own due to an uneven surface or lack of skill. Cars, on the other hand, more often cause harm to others.
3. Legislation 2025: Insurance and Rules
To ensure safety, legislation has become stricter. Are you familiar with the latest changes?
📜 Mandatory Insurance (Effective from 2024)
In accordance with an EU directive, third-party liability insurance is mandatory for e-scooters that:
- Weigh more than 25 kg and reach speeds over 14 km/h, OR
- Have a maximum design speed of over 25 km/h.
Note: Most standard city e-scooters (e.g., Xiaomi, Ninebot up to 25 km/h) do not require registration, but liability insurance is highly recommended.
🪖 Helmets and Phones
A helmet is mandatory for riders up to the age of 18, but in 2025, experts recommend it for everyone. The fine for using a phone or headphones while riding is €120.
4. Why We Need Them: The Benefits Beyond the Fear
If we look past the sensationalism, e-scooters offer key solutions for Slovenian cities:
- 🌱 Ecology: Zero point-of-use emissions and less air pollution.
- 🚗 Reduced congestion: Every e-scooter in downtown Ljubljana means one less car.
- 💰 Cost-effectiveness: Riding is practically free compared to driving a car.
- 🏁 The "last mile" solution: An ideal link between a P+R (Park and Ride) facility and the workplace.
Conclusion: A Call for Responsibility
E-scooters are not inherently dangerous—only their irresponsible use is. The narrative that demonizes them overlooks the fact that cars remain by far the biggest threat on our roads.
In 2025, be part of the solution: Wear a helmet, obey traffic laws, and ride sober. This way, we can all safely enjoy the benefits of micromobility.
Sources and Literature (APA)
- Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency (AVP). (2024, February 15). State of Traffic Safety 2023 – Official Data is Available. Retrieved from avp-rs.si
- Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency (AVP). (2024, May 22). Riders of E-scooters, Bicycles, and E-bikes Must Be More Aware of Their Responsibility. Retrieved from avp-rs.si/e-skiroji
- RTV SLO. (2025, January 6). In 2024, the Fewest Fatalities on Slovenian Roads Since Official Statistics Began. Retrieved from rtvslo.si
- Siol.net. (2025, June 11). The Number of Traffic Accidents with E-scooters is Rising, Injuries are Becoming More Severe. Retrieved from siol.net
- Zavod Vozim. (2023, April 6). E-scooters are Becoming More Widespread, as are Traffic Accidents and Injuries. Retrieved from vozim.si
- Road Traffic Rules Act (ZPrCP). (2021). Official Gazette of the RS, No. 82/13, 68/16, 54/17, 3/18 – dec. CC, 43/19 – ZVoz-1B, 92/20 and 123/21. Retrieved from pisrs.si
