Inquiry concerning the safe use of mini-mopeds (No. 828)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-11-03 19:50
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 16
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 35m
AI Summaries: 16/16 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated an interpellation submitted to Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis concerning the safety and regulation of minimopeds and light personal transporters (LPTs), which was presented by Lauri Laats and other members of the Riigikogu. The submitter of the interpellation, Lauri Laats (pid: q-NH4yPMXTY), stressed that the sector is plagued by "disorder" regarding both technical and legal regulation, citing tragic accidents (including a recent fatal accident in Tartu). Minister Kuldar Leis thanked the members for raising the topic and presented statistics, noting that the number of accidents involving light personal transporters has decreased by 26% over the last nine months, but stressed that the focus has shifted from rental vehicles to privately owned LPTs, especially among 7–14-year-olds. Leis confirmed that vehicle types are precisely defined by law in Estonia. He outlined the ministry's plans: consideration is being given to raising the minimum age limit for LPT drivers and extending the requirement for driving rights to minors (bicycle licenses). Work is also underway to establish an obligation for rental companies to implement reliable age and identity verification measures. The Minister promised that legislative amendments would be drafted under the leadership of the Ministry of Climate and attempts would be made to bring them before the Riigikogu before the next season (spring). In the subsequent debate, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (pid: pRsZT2E8hTk) sharply criticized the coalition, accusing them of voting down previous Center Party drafts (e.g., establishing a limit on the number of rental vehicles, helmet rental, mandatory traffic insurance) and accusing the government of prioritizing the interests of entrepreneurs over public health.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (Centre Party, left) was the most active speaker, utilizing extended speaking time to criticize the government's inaction and the adoption of earlier regulations (such as exemptions for traffic insurance), while accusing the coalition of prioritizing business interests.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced the Riigikogu's fourth agenda item, which is an interpellation submitted to the Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis, by several members of parliament, led by Lauri Laats, regarding the safe use of minimopeds, and invited Laats to present it from the rostrum.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats highlights the dangerous legal and technical disarray concerning the use of scooters and mopeds, referencing recent tragic accidents (including one in Tartu) which confirm the danger posed by the lack of regulation. He demands a concrete plan from the Minister of Infrastructure to ensure the safety of road users and to put an end to the insufficient regulatory framework.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and called Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis to the Riigikogu podium to respond to the submitted interpellation.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis provided an overview of accident statistics related to light personal mobility devices, noting that while the number of accidents involving rental vehicles has decreased thanks to restrictions implemented in Tallinn, the safety focus has shifted to privately owned devices and young people aged 7–14. Consequently, the Ministry of Climate is actively preparing legislative amendments. These changes include stricter age verification for rental services, extending the requirement for bicycle licenses to young riders, and enhancing training and supervision by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), all aimed at ensuring greater traffic safety already by next season.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the respected minister, announced that questions would be posed to him, and invited Lauri Laats to the podium as the next speaker.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats criticized the inadequacy of the traffic accident statistics presented by the rapporteur, particularly regarding mopeds and e-scooters, highlighting the progressive growth in the number of fatalities. Furthermore, he demands an explanation from the state as to why there are no mechanisms available to halt the operations of those rental companies that fail to ensure minors are prevented from renting vehicles, citing the specific problem involving Tallinn's red mopeds.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis acknowledges the vast scale and rapid growth of the problem and confirms that he is actively engaging with the entire market sector, including Bolt and Ride, to find a unified solution mandatory for all participants. This solution involves establishing identity verification and an age limit, which will likely prohibit rental services from being offered to those under the age of 18.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar. Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart was called to the podium to deliver her presentation.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart criticizes the ministry’s responses to the legal amendments proposed by the Center Party concerning the regulation of scooters, citing examples such as local government restrictions on the number of scooters, age limits, and the issue of mandatory traffic insurance. She notes that the proposals were rejected with reference to restricting entrepreneurial freedom, while simultaneously inquiring about the discussion of the insurance topic within the traffic commission, especially regarding the exemption granted to Bolt scooters from the mandatory traffic insurance requirement.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis explained that the proposals for limiting the number of rental light personal vehicles and requiring mandatory insurance were rejected because limiting the number is difficult to implement due to the proximity of local governments, and insurance does not directly improve road safety. However, he emphasized that Bolt still holds general liability insurance, which is valid in the event of accidents.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar recognized Vladimir Arhipov and invited him to the podium.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov recognizes the need for swift measures to regulate dangerous traffic situations (like raising the minimum age limit and restricting speed and parking). However, he doubts whether the government’s plan to wait until spring to develop these measures is sufficient, and he is calling for faster enforcement of the legislation, ideally by the new year.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis stresses that while some effective measures (such as training programs and police checks) can be implemented immediately without requiring changes to the law, deeper changes that require IT support will take time. Therefore, he cannot promise a rapid, comprehensive solution; instead, the approach must be step-by-step to ensure readiness for the next season.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the round of questions addressed to the minister, thanked him, and then opened the floor for debate. He then invited Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to the Riigikogu podium, granting her an additional three minutes of speaking time.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart sharply criticizes the ruling coalition (Reform Party, Eesti 200) for allowing the situation regarding light electric vehicles and small mopeds to spiral out of control. This occurred because they repeatedly voted down Centre Party draft legislation that would have regulated age verification, vehicle limits, and mandatory helmet use. She accuses the coalition of protecting the interests of entrepreneurs, particularly Bolt, instead of prioritizing public health. She points to tragic accidents and suspicious legal amendments that exempted rental scooters from mandatory traffic insurance, also highlighting large donations made by Bolt’s founders.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar closed the debate, as no further requests to speak had been submitted and the minister also did not wish to take the floor, and therefore declared the discussion of the fourth agenda item concluded.