Nightlife and parties have returned to the streets of Rīga, and for many, a scooter is the most convenient and cheapest way of getting home in the middle of the night. Latvian Television accompanied the police on Friday, July 1, night, and every single driver of scooters that night was intoxicated. Scooter drivers have the same permitted blood alcohol limit as cyclists: up to 0.5 promille. If it is higher, penalties apply.
From 1 to 3 July, the State Police officers recorded 12 road traffic accidents in which the driver had been injured. A total of 16 such incidents have been recorded during this period.
The information gathered by the police shows that most of these accidents occurred because of the recklessness or irresponsibility of the drivers themselves. Mainly, the drivers of electric scooters were injured by falling, sometimes they collided with another vehicle.
Police also reminded an incident last week when a tipsy driver fell from the scooter and later died. Investigation of the circumstances continues.
