Is the old man’s joy no more? Some Chinese cities are cracking down on unlicensed electric scooters favored by seniors

JOY FOR THE ELDERLY

Laotoule vehicles began appearing on China’s roads in the early 2000s and are now one of the most popular forms of transportation for older people – with more than 10 million in stock in 2020, figures show of the industry.

Priced between 2,000 yuan ($276) and 22,000 yuan, they are much cheaper than conventional cars and vans and are easy to park and drive.

They also do not require a driver’s license or registration and are not subject to the traffic rules and regulations that apply to most conventional motorized vehicles, which adds to their popularity.

But their presence is controversial.

The accidents are alarming and their unregulated use has recently led to widespread bans in several major Chinese cities.

Nearly 20,000 deaths from incidents involving low-speed electric vehicles were reported by authorities nationwide between 2012 and 2016,

After more than 100 deaths recorded in 2022, Laotoule vehicles were banned in Beijing at the start of the year, no longer able to travel on the roads or park in public spaces.

The accidents in Laotoule continued in other Chinese cities and provinces.

An accident was reported in Ganzhou city, southeastern Jiangxi province, in late November, in which an elderly driver recklessly ran into traffic and injured another electric vehicle driver.

This sparked a citywide crackdown, resulting in the seizure of more than 2,000 Laotoule vehicles and the gradual removal of hundreds of vehicles.

In Sichuan, where authorities only allow registered and licensed laotoules on the road, a tragic accident occurred on a major highway on October 12. A 74-year-old man drove his laotoule against traffic in the passing lane, resulting in a fatal collision. which cost two lives.

Many drivers in Laotoule usually operate without proper licenses and are “less likely to comply” with traffic rules, creating greater safety risks, said Wang Yuanyuan, an urban public transportation consultant and also general manager. from the company Easy Traffic Consulting based in Shanghai.

“These vehicles often fail to meet automobile safety standards, such as structural integrity and occupant protection (and) in the event of an accident, these defects can lead to more serious casualties,” Wang said, highlighting the poor battery quality and inadequate charging. the installations could also cause fire hazards.

“Additionally, insurance systems are not well established, making it difficult to manage the consequences of accidents. »

Zhang Xiang, director of the Research Center for International Cooperation in the Digital Automotive Sector at the Global Digital Economy Forum, echoed these concerns. “Without a license, many drivers simply ignore traffic rules,” he said.

“If drivers commit violations and flee, it is difficult to penalize them. They disrupt traffic order and harm road safety.

Zhang noted that sales of laotoules were “down” after Beijing’s vehicle ban earlier this year. “Today, many places regulate these types of vehicles, unlike in the past, where they operated in a gray area,” he said.

Even though drivers like Huang acknowledged their safety concerns about their vehicles, abandoning them was not an option because they still provided a cheap and convenient means of travel.

“From a safety perspective, it’s understandable to want these vehicles to be registered and insured, but in some cases it’s just not possible,” Huang said.