Tampere to introduce 10 km/h low-speed zones and weekend sobriety tests for rental e-scooters

According to the City of Tampere, e-scooter accidents in Tampere have fallen to about 250 a year, but serious injuries remain a concern. From 24 June the city will introduce 10 km/h low-speed zones in busy pedestrian areas and require mandatory weekend sobriety reaction tests for rental scooters.

A joint review by the city and Pirkanmaa well-being services county, covering cases treated at Acuta and Valkeakoski emergency departments, found 1,837 e-scooter injuries in 2019–2025. About one in three were classified as severe after clinical review.

Overall accident numbers have dropped from the worst years of 2021–22, even as trip volumes rose by up to 700,000 between 2022 and 2025. Safety per trip has improved. Still, the annual count of the most serious injuries has not fallen significantly: roughly 10 major head injuries, 15–20 severe facial injuries and about 70 severe limb injuries.

To curb weekend and nighttime crashes, Tampere will set 10 km/h limits in busy pedestrian areas from 24 June while allowing 15 km/h on Hämeenkatu and Hervanta's Insinöörinkatu; the limits apply every day. Rental operators must start a compulsory reaction test for users from Friday to Sunday after 20:00. Police will step up enforcement in summer 2026, targeting intoxicated riding and illegal behaviour such as sidewalk riding.

The review estimates the annual societal cost of injuries at about €500,000 in treatment and sick leave. City officials expect recent micromobility law changes, including a 0.5 per mille blood alcohol threshold, to support safer riding.

The change follows earlier consideration of a weekend-night ban by city authorities and builds on recent police patrol increases in the city centre aimed at e-scooter safety.