{
  "id": 17897993,
  "title": "Road ban stays on e-scooters, but trial findings will shape upcoming laws, says MOT",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/road-ban-stays-on-e-scooters-but-trial-findings-will-shape-upcoming-17897993",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T02:06:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/11/03/road-ban-stays-on-e-scooters-but-trial-findings-will-shape-upcoming-laws-says-mot/241764"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — The Malaysian Transport Ministry has firmly maintained a road ban on e-scooters and other micromobility vehicles, but the outcomes of controlled sandbox trials will influence forthcoming comprehensive regulations. During a question in the Dewan Rakyat, the ministry clarified that micromobility devices are useful for \"first and last mile\" travel, yet they must be deployed cautiously, taking into account factors such as road conditions, traffic speed, rider safety, and infrastructure appropriateness. The Road Traffic Rules (Prohibition of Use of Certain Micromobility Vehicles) 2021 currently bans mopeds, Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs), and Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs) on all public roads nationwide. Nonetheless, the ministry retains the authority to permit selective trials in designated zones via the Micromobility Sandbox pilot program. Currently, this initiative is operational in seven pilot areas, including municipal districts in Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, and Penang, as well as university campuses at Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, and UiTM Perak. The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) has established operational guidelines for these pilot runs, encompassing infrastructure design, rider safety, device roadworthiness, and fleet operator responsibilities. The trial data will assess micromobility performance under real-world traffic conditions to inform future legislation on vehicle classification, mechanical safety standards, permitted corridors, and enforcement procedures. The ministry highlighted that international practices from China, Singapore, and Japan serve as a reference, with these countries regulating micromobility by categorizing vehicles, setting safety specifications, speed limits, and route-specific usage rules. For infrastructure, the ministry emphasized the need for dedicated lanes separate from motorized traffic, or shared corridors with adequate traffic-calming measures if space is limited. Urban planning agency PLANMalaysia has distributed route planning guidelines to relevant authorities, but the parliamentary reply did not provide a clear timeline for legalizing micromobility in housing estates or village roads.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Micromobility vehicles such as e-scooters remain strictly prohibited on all public roads for...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}