New rules for electric scooters in Finland: what Ukrainian refugees with children should consider
In June 2025, new rules for the use of electric scooters and other light electric vehicles will come into force in Finland. For many Ukrainian refugees who are in the country and are actively adapting to Finnish life together with their children, these changes are of practical importance. After all, electric scooters have long become a popular means of transportation in Finnish cities, especially among teenagers and young people. At the same time, the updated restrictions set new requirements for age, parental responsibility and fines. Ukrainian families should carefully familiarize themselves with these rules in order to avoid trouble and fines, which are applied quite strictly in Finland.
When the new rules come into effect
From June 17, 2025, changes to the traffic rules regulating the use of electric scooters and similar types of transport will officially enter into force in Finland. The decision was made at the national level after discussions that have been going on for the past few years, taking into account the rapid growth in popularity of this mode of transportation and numerous cases of road accidents involving children and minors.
The Finnish authorities emphasize that the new restrictions were introduced not to make life difficult for users, but for safety reasons, since in recent years the country has recorded an increasing number of road accidents, injuries and violations among underage drivers of electric scooters.
The main innovation is the establishment of an age threshold for persons who have the right to drive electric scooters. From now on, the minimum age for driving such vehicles is 15 years. This applies to all types of electric scooters and other light electric vehicles, if their maximum speed exceeds 15 kilometers per hour.
The restriction applies both to private electric scooters and to rented ones, which Ukrainian teenagers often take from rental services in large Finnish cities – Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu. It should be noted that many e-scooter operators already technically restrict access to rentals for minors through mobile applications, but now this is also enshrined in law.
Parents’ responsibility for violations
It is especially important for Ukrainian families to realize that in case of violation of the age limit, the responsibility will not be borne by the children, but by their parents or official guardians. If the police record the fact that a child under the age of 15 is using an electric scooter, the fine will be imposed on adults.
The amount of the fine for this violation has increased: previously it was 40 euros, and now it is 60 euros. At the same time, the police will be able to stop and check documents right on the street. In Finland, there is a strict system of monitoring compliance with traffic rules, and cases of warnings without fines are usually not practiced – sanctions are applied immediately.
For parents who have come to Finland from Ukraine and are not always familiar with the local legal intricacies, it is important to understand that the Finnish police have the right to demand an identity card from both children and adults in order to determine the age of the driver of the electric scooter. Therefore, even short trips in yards or parks with the participation of minors can lead to fines.
Penalties for drunk driving
Separately, Finnish legislation provides for the responsibility of adults for driving electric scooters while intoxicated. Although e-scooters are considered light transport, the driver’s sobriety requirements are effectively the same as those for motorists.
The maximum permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ppm. If this threshold is exceeded or if drugs are found on the driver, the police imposes a fine of 200 euros. Moreover, this rule applies to all age groups — both adults and minors (provided that they have already reached the legal driving age).
In addition, it should be remembered that in Finland, violations of the rules while intoxicated can also be considered as a more serious administrative or even criminal offense in the case of repeated cases or significantly exceeding the permissible limit.
Why are the new restrictions introduced?
When introducing new rules, Finnish lawmakers are paying attention to several factors that have forced them to revise safety regulations. Firstly, over the past three years, electric scooters have become a full-fledged part of urban transport, but the increase in their number has led to a sharp increase in accidents, especially among children and teenagers. Many of these adventures resulted in injuries, in some cases serious.
Secondly, many violations of traffic rules were recorded by underage drivers who, due to their age, do not always adequately assess the road situation. In addition to endangering the children themselves, it also created risks for pedestrians and other road users, especially on bike paths and sidewalks.
Thirdly, the Finnish authorities seek to unify their rules with European practice, where in many countries similar age restrictions have been in place for light electric vehicles for a long time.
What else is important for Ukrainian families in Finland to know
In addition to the new fines, Ukrainian refugees should take into account the general culture of compliance in Finnish society. In Finland, children’s safety, law and order, and the administrative responsibility of parents for the actions of minors are very carefully considered. Many rules are regulated not only by the police, but also by social services. This is especially true for families who receive asylum or are in temporary protection status. Violation of the law can affect not only financial penalties, but also the assessment of social authorities when making decisions in cases related to child protection, schools or benefits.
Another important aspect is insurance. In many cases, injuries sustained while driving an e-scooter are not covered by standard policies if the person was driving under the influence of alcohol or driving under the age limit. In case of an accident, it can become an additional financial problem for the family.
Since the new rules come into force on June 17, 2025, Ukrainian parents should discuss these rules with their children now. It is especially important to have a preventive conversation with teenagers, who can rent electric scooters through mobile applications without the involvement of adults. It is worth explaining to children the Finnish strictness in observing the rules and the responsibility that rests on the whole family.
