70% of the penalties imposed are for driving in pedestrian areas and 14% for driving without a helmet
The Local Police carries out a campaign of controls on personal mobility vehicles that results in 265 inspections in the last two months
Most of the infractions committed by drivers of personal mobility vehicles (VMP) in Benidorm are for driving in pedestrian areas, a circumstance that is prohibited and that causes 70% of the infractions detected by the Local Police in the controls carried out in the last two months.
The Local Police began more intensive surveillance in January due to the proliferation of VMPs and the urban use that was carried out in the city. Given this situation, the Police considered it necessary to take action to allow safe circulation both for the drivers of this type of vehicle - mostly scooters - and for other road users.
The campaign of controls on public roads began in January. However, it was reinforced starting in May "given the confusion that exists among the users of these vehicles given that the regulation depends on each municipal authority and, therefore, may be different in different municipalities,” said the Councilor for Citizen Security, Jesús Carrobles. Thus, from January to May the number of controls carried out was 28, and in May and June, that number rose to 53. In total, 81 controls.
The results of this scooter control campaign indicate that approximately 800 personal mobility vehicles have been inspected in the first six months of the year. Of those inspections, 70% of the violations originated from driving through pedestrian areas; 14% were committed for driving without a helmet and 10% for lacking mandatory civil liability insurance. The remaining 6% were due to other causes.
Regarding the reinforcement of controls in the last two months 151 scooters were inspected. The Local Police proceeded to identify three people and filed 54 complaints through the Municipal Traffic Bulletin. The complaints to the Provincial Traffic Headquarters amounted to six and the vehicles deposited were ten.
In June, the number of personal mobility vehicles inspected was 114. In these controls, one person was identified, 54 complaints were filed through the Municipal Traffic Bulletin and another five complaints were made to the Provincial Traffic Headquarters. with 18 vehicles deposited.
This campaign of VMP controls and inspections will be valid throughout the summer season, as explained by the councillor "to continue to inform and control the use of these vehicles with the main mission of raising awareness among scooter drivers."
Carrobles recalled that the Neighborhood Council had already expressed its concern in recent meetings about the proliferation of these vehicles, which on many occasions travelled through pedestrian areas that were prohibited for them. “They had asked us to take measures to improve this problem and, in addition to the campaigns and controls, we are also working on placing signs in various areas, but it is a process that takes time if it is to be done well,” Carrobles said.