One in four electric scooter drivers in Barcelona skips red lights or crossings, study shows

A new study by RACC Mobility Club shows that one in four electric scooter drivers around Barcelona does not respect traffic lights or crossings. 

The fifth barometer on micromobility, published on Wednesday, analyzed the events of 800 users, 600 of whom traveled around the Catalan capital and 200 more accessing the metropolis.

According to the study, 95% of e-scooter drivers wear helmets, but around 40% drive on the sidewalk or ride against traffic.

The majority does not respect the speed limit when it is marked at 10 km/h. RACC points out that 22% of those surveyed acknowledge receiving a fine, and 25% of these fines are due to speeding.

RACC points out that the use of e-scooter across the city continues on similar levels to last year's barometer. However, there has been an increase of users who drive e-scooters to enter Barcelona. During the last survey, published in 2024, the text already showed that many skipped red lights and in 2023, 15% of drivers had been involved in at least one accident.

In 2024, there were 608 accidents with electric scooters in Barcelona, 8% of the overall accidents in the Catalan capital. This is a decrease of around 20% from the 2023 figures.

Some of the recommendations to lower the number of reckless micromobility driving are to increase police patrols, do more driving pedagogy, and set up new technological innovations to control actions and avoid accidents.