First Croatian City Bans Electric Scooters on Streets

The news in Croatian

1. zabraniti
   označava radnju sprečavanja ili onemogućavanja nekoga u čemu ↩︎
2. nesreća  (f.)
   neugodna ili opasna situacija koja često vodi do ozljeda ili štete ↩︎
3. briga  (f.)
   osjećaj ili stanje zabrinutosti za nekoga ili nešto ↩︎
4. postaviti
   smjestiti nešto na određeno mjesto ↩︎
5. upozoravati
   dati nekome na znanje da bude oprezan zbog moguće opasnosti ↩︎
6. razmatrati
   pažljivo analizirati ili razmišljati o nečemu prije donošenja odluke ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Why did Zaprešić ban electric scooters on the streets?

Question 2: What measures are being taken in Zaprešić regarding the scooter ban?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
zabraniti	prohibit
nesreća  (f.)	accident
briga  (f.)	worry
postaviti	install
upozoravati	warn
razmatrati	consider

Read the full story

The city of Zaprešić has taken a pioneering step by becoming the first in Croatia to impose a ban on the use of electric scooters in traffic. This initiative follows a series of incidents involving electric scooters, which have prompted concerns about safety, particularly involving children.

The decision comes amid a noticeable increase in accidents linked to these vehicles. As a result, Zaprešić has introduced new signage specifically designed to indicate zones where electric scooters are prohibited. This move marks the first instance of such signage in Croatia, and although not yet officially recognised by national transport regulations, it serves a clear purpose in promoting public safety.

Officials in Zaprešić expressed their concerns, noting the growing number of electric scooters on roadways, which heightens the risk of severe injuries. “Just as in the rest of Croatia, we are seeing a significant rise in electric scooters on our streets, increasing the danger, especially for children,” read a statement from the Zaprešić city council.

In defence of this decision, city authorities emphasise that it is a proactive measure in response to multiple reports of scooters being misused in public areas, endangering pedestrians. While the ban aims at enhancing safety, discussion continues regarding how such policies might align with broader regional transport regulations.

In addition to the ban in Zaprešić, city councils in other parts of Croatia, such as Koprivnica, are evaluating measures to regulate scooter use. Koprivnica’s mayor, Mišel Jakšić, highlighted the potential use of security personnel to manage scooter usage in playgrounds and parks, stressing that current laws have proven inadequate.

Jakšić noted, “While legislative changes are underway at the national level, these alone aren’t sufficient. As local authorities, we must take responsibility to ensure public safety, especially where it concerns children. Therefore, we’re considering engaging security services for oversight in specific areas.”

The discussions come in the wake of an incident in Koprivnica, where a disagreement over scooter use led to a violent altercation on a school playground. Mayor Jakšić addressed this issue, stating that violence is never a solution and underscored the importance of legal compliance and community-coordinated safety measures.

The introduction of bans and regulation reflects broader European trends, where speed and operation limits on electric scooters have already been implemented in several countries. Such measures are intended to balance the benefits of these vehicles with the need for pedestrian and public safety.

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