In response to growing concerns over the reckless use of e-scooters, particularly in food delivery services, Vienna has launched a major enforcement operation in the Favoriten district.

The initiative, led by the Gruppe Sofortmaßnahmen, involved multiple city departments and focused on curbing speeding and ensuring compliance with traffic laws.

A mobile testing unit was deployed to check the speed and roadworthiness of e-scooters, revealing that five out of twelve tested exceeded the legal speed limit of 25 km/h.

The operation also addressed issues such as illegal parking and drug use among riders, resulting in numerous fines and legal actions.

This crackdown comes amid alarming statistics from 2023, where e-scooters were involved in 1,762 accidents across Austria, leading to 1,607 injuries and three fatalities.

The Austrian Automobile Club (ÖAMTC) highlights the lack of riding skills and the influence of substances as major contributors to these incidents, calling for stricter regulations and safety measures.