Why You Should Buy Bike Insurance for Teens Riding Electric Scooty
Why You Should Buy Bike Insurance for Teens Riding Electric Scooty
Teenagers are usually associated with stubbornness and rebellion. At that age, they feel like making their own rules and following them. And if they are asked to do something, they will most likely do its opposite. However, if there is something that a lot of teenagers have in common, is the desire to ride. And for that to happen, you can buy bike insurance online. Most of us would have come across instances where teens have taken the bike of their parents without their knowledge and eventually rode them. This is extremely dangerous at several levels. To start with, it is illegal to ride a bike without a driving license. Should any unfortunate event or incident take place, the onus is on the parents. And most importantly, they might not have been properly trained to ride a bike. They merely copy what they have seen in the family.
Government’s Intervention
The government felt that one of the easiest ways of handling the above situation was to make it legal for older teenagers to ride. This was a blessing in disguise for some parents, as they no longer must pick up and drop their kids from school or other classes. The only caveat to this ruling is that teenagers cannot ride any bike of their choice and at any speed. They have permission only to ride electric vehicles within restricted speed limits.
Though the ruling allows teenagers to ride without any issues, it does not eliminate the need for a bike insurance policy. It is important to note that the law mandates all two wheelers to have valid insurance on them at all times. This is also valid for bikes with internal combustion engines and electric bikes. A hefty fine awaits you if you are caught riding a bike without valid insurance. Also, bikes are prone to accidents as well. If you are riding without insurance and unfortunately meet with an accident, you will have to pay for all the expenses from your pocket.
When you buy bike insurance online, it is easy to go through the coverage on offer and make a quick decision. Many insurance providers offer the option to compare different plans online, giving you a lot more flexibility and convenience.
Legal Driving Age in India
It is only obvious that one would want to know the legal driving age in the country. If you wish to ride an electric scooter, you can do so anytime between the ages of sixteen and eighteen and, of course, thereafter as well. Teenagers within this age bracket will receive a permit for electric scooters that restricts them from riding the scooter up to a maximum speed of 70 kmph. These changes were approved by the Transport Ministry.
One of the major reasons for the ministry to introduce this age limit for riding a scooter was to reduce the erratic riding behaviour of teenagers. Teenagers in the aforementioned age group are usually caught speeding as well. As per the regulations, teenagers who are at least 16 years old are permitted to ride electric scooters with a maximum output of 4 kilowatts.
These rules were primarily designed by the RTO for electric scooters to ensure a reduction in the number of erratic behaviour and speeding-related complaints. Thus, you need to be at least 16 years of age and ride an electric scooter with a maximum capacity of 4 kilowatts.
License for Electric Bikes
Does a 16-year-old riding an electric scooter need to get a driving license? The simple answer is Yes. As mentioned earlier, the permit to ride an electric scooter applies to teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18. Until recently, teenagers weren’t allowed to apply for a license since they were exempt.
Now the government is classifying scooters under the category of two wheeler propelled vehicles, thereby making it mandatory to get a license for the same. In simple words, you would need to get the appropriate license plates to start riding the scooters. The decision has been welcomed by most segments of society.
This allows teenagers to get acquainted with the rules and regulations of road traffic. The step would help them to build their confidence levels and be better prepared for an actual license when they are adults.
In the process, parents also play a crucial role in the entire ordeal. They are responsible for ensuring their children's safety and adequate riding gear, including helmets, gloves, knee pads, etc., to ride the two wheelers.
There were rumours that the government was considering granting a driving license to teenagers for riding electric scooters with up to 100cc motors. The primary reason behind this ordeal was to reduce the rapid increase in teenagers riding two wheelers, which is illegal in the country.
Need for Electric Bikes
Electric bikes are becoming popular daily, and there are quite a few reasons for the same. To start with, their running costs are extremely low. Charges related to their repair and maintenance is low as well. Though they have a slightly higher upfront cost of buying, the other expenses make them a solid choice if you do not wish to spend a lot of money on fuel.
And not to forget that electric bikes can help you navigate through traffic-induced cities without many hassles. The decision by the transport ministry to make electric bikes legal for teenagers might further push the demand for electric bikes. Which should further help with their popularity. As more and more electric bikes are visible on the road, it will help reduce carbon emissions and lower pollution levels.
The end goal is to move towards a more sustainable future rather than relying heavily on internal combustion engine bikes as we currently do. With the ever-increasing fuel prices, electric bikes will help your travel or commute costs down.
Irrespective of which type of bike you choose, bike insurance online is the smartest way to buy a policy. When you buy bike insurance online, you can compare policies from different vendors and different types of policies. The policy that offers better coverage at affordable prices should be your ideal choice. You can buy bike insurance online for electric bikes as well as internal combustion bikes. It is even more important for teenagers since they are still learning to ride and might commit a few mistakes. Which might result in damage to the bike or an accident with someone else.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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