Our reporter Wu Wenxin
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The ever-increasing number of old scooters still has problems such as outstanding safety hazards, frequent traffic chaos, and unlicensed management.
Relevant people called for strengthening the management of scooters from the source.
In recent years, because of the advantages of flexible driving, low price, and easy purchase, the old scooters have become popular among consumer groups such as the elderly, and have become "frequent visitors" on the road.
However, the ever-increasing number of old scooters still has problems such as outstanding safety hazards, frequent traffic chaos, and unlicensed management.
Relevant people called for strengthening the management of scooters from the source.
The travel needs of the elderly are increasing.
How to facilitate the daily travel of the elderly under the premise of ensuring safety?
The old scooter becomes the darling of the market
A few days ago, the reporter visited an electric car sales store on Xizhimenwai Street in Beijing. Despite the cold weather, there are not a few consumers who come to the store to see cars and test drives.
According to the “Response to Recommendation No. 7609 of the Third Session of the Thirteenth National People’s Congress” by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, “elderly electric scooters” generally refer to four-wheel low-speed electric scooters that have low driving speeds, do not meet the standards for corresponding types of motor vehicles, and are not included in the management of motor vehicles. In the market, they are also called "old age scooter" and "disabled moped".
According to sales personnel, the price of four-wheel low-speed electric vehicles is generally between 30,000 yuan and 50,000 yuan, and the maximum speed can reach 50 kilometers per hour. Most of them are electric drives. There are two types of batteries for consumers to choose: lithium batteries and lead-acid batteries. Batteries, consumers can choose the number of batteries according to their needs.
"Four-wheel low-speed electric vehicles sell well. Sometimes they can sell six or seven vehicles a day, most of them are bought by the elderly." The salesperson said that in addition to convenient use and convenient purchase, another selling point of this old-fashioned scooter is No license is required, and drivers do not need to take a driving license to drive on the road.
In the event of an accident, according to the motor vehicle liability
No license, no restriction on driving, no driver’s license, running red lights, parking indiscriminately... the "willfulness" of the old scooter has caused headaches for many motor vehicle drivers and traffic police.
The compact size gives the old scooters the advantage of "shutting freely" in the city. You can see the old scooters in both motorized and non-motorized lanes.
When the reporter visited, it was found that many communities in Beijing did not have special parking spaces for old-age scooters, and some old-age scooters occupied motor vehicle parking spaces.
The embarrassment of identity is one of the reasons why the old scooter is so "willful".
According to the relevant provisions of the "Road Traffic Safety Law", low-speed electric vehicles should be classified as road motor vehicles, but the old scooters did not apply for market access in accordance with the state's requirements for motor vehicle management, and drivers and vehicles did not implement license management.
Gu Dasong, executive director of the Research Center for Traffic Law and Development of Southeast University, told a reporter from Workers’ Daily: “Old scooters are often identified as motor vehicles in judicial appraisal, but they are just illegal vehicles. In other words, traffic accidents occur. The liability is determined according to the motor vehicle."
Comprehensive measures to strengthen management
The reporter learned that many low-speed electric vehicle manufacturers do not have the qualifications for motor vehicle production, and their products do not meet the requirements of national standards. The illegal production, sales and use on the road under the name of "old age scooter" bring great safety hazards.
In order to regulate the low-speed electric vehicle market, in November 2018, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other six departments jointly issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Management of Low-speed Electric Vehicles", requiring the local governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities to organize the clean-up and rectification of low-speed electric vehicles. The production capacity of electric vehicles will accelerate standardized management of low-speed electric vehicles.
Since the issuance of the "Notice", Shandong, Jiangsu and other places have organized clean-up and rectification work to standardize the development of the low-speed electric vehicle industry.
Gu Dasong believes that the old scooters are obviously motor vehicles and should be banned if they are not included in the National Announcement on Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Products.
The management of scooters in the old age should be comprehensively implemented. “We must exert efforts on both sides of supply and demand. Traffic safety is a balance point.” He said that since low-speed electric vehicles involve multiple links such as production, sales, driving permits, and scrap recycling, they also need All departments cooperate according to the division of responsibilities, work together to manage and promote together.
Regarding the standards for four-wheel low-speed electric vehicles, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated in the above reply that the draft standard "Technical Conditions for Four-wheel Low-speed Electric Vehicles" has been formed, and the standard preparation is currently being accelerated.
In the next step, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will continue to steadily promote the management of low-speed electric vehicles with relevant departments, further improve the specific management measures in the production, sales, taxes, insurance and use management, and after-sales service of low-speed electric vehicles, and improve the low-speed electric vehicle management system.