A 31-SECOND video circulating on social media shows a dramatic collision at a road junction.
The footage captures an electric scooter crashing into the side of a moving car, throwing the rider onto the road whilst bystanders rush to help.
But did this incident really happen on a main road in Penang?
Verdict:
TRUE
A viral video showing an electric scooter crashing into the side of a moving car has raised concerns over road safety.
In the 31-second video, the e-scooter is seen crossing a junction before colliding with the side of a car travelling through the intersection.
The impact throws the rider off the scooter and onto the road, whilst the micromobility vehicle is seen bouncing backwards.
Passing motorists and bystanders stopped to assist the rider, who appeared to be unconscious on the road immediately after the crash.
The rider's condition remains unknown and there has been no official statement from authorities regarding the incident or whether an investigation is underway.
The video has circulated widely on social media, prompting renewed debate over the safety of e-scooters and their use on public roads.
Based on the caption of the video, the incident allegedly happened in Bayan Baru.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor Ooi Mei Mei urged the public not to use e-scooters on public roads and to always comply with the rules and regulations set by the authorities.
"Uncontrolled use of e-scooters not only endangers the rider but also poses risks to other road users, including motorists and pedestrians," she said.
Ooi said safety aspects must always be prioritised and users of e-scooters are responsible for ensuring that safety equipment requirements are met and to remain alert to their surroundings.
She said vehicles permitted for use in public areas are power-assisted bicycles.
These bicycles require the rider to pedal manually, whilst the battery pack functions only as supplementary assistance to ease pedalling.
She emphasised that power-assisted bicycles are different from e-scooters or fully electric motor vehicles that move without pedalling and pose safety risks on public roads.
"Therefore, e-scooters are not permitted for use on public roads, and only vehicles that comply with the existing definitions, specifications and regulations are allowed to ensure the safety of users and the general public," she said.
In 2023, MBPP published the Garis Panduan Penggunaan Mikromobiliti di Kawasan Pulau, a guideline to regulate usage of e-scooters. In the guidelines, all types of human-powered bicycles, unicycles and power-assisted bicycles with a speed limit of 25km/h are allowed on all types of roads and lanes.
All other types of personal mobility vehicles, including e-scooters and battery-powered wheelchairs, are only allowed in dedicated bicycle lanes, along back lanes of the heritage enclave and on specific streets closed to traffic during Sunday car-free zones from 6am to 1am.
Since 2022, the Transport Ministry has banned certain micromobility vehicles from being used on the road.
The ban was gazetted under the Road Traffic (Prohibition of Use of Certain Micromobility Vehicles) Rules 2021 and has been in effect since Dec 17, 2021.
Micromobility vehicles refer to those powered by electricity, an internal combustion engine or human power with a maximum speed of 50km/h.
The ban covers mopeds, personal mobility aids such as motorised wheelchairs and personal mobility devices including e-scooters, hoverboards, skateboards and kick scooters.
