The meeting of the Beis Din
The rabbonim of the United Rabbinical Council of America and Canada met last week and issued a halachic ruling forbidding the use of electric scooters because of the danger involved.
They write that experience has shown that many pedestrians, as well as the riders themselves, have been severely injured and in several incidents, even involving life-threatening results.
In their letter, they say that many noted askonim involved in medicine came before them telling from firsthand experience that in many chareidi neighborhoods, people were injured by those scooters. This is why they unanimously decided that such electric scooters constitute a menace which the Torah requires to be removed and not used.
The rabbonim quote the Shulchan Oruch which says that, "Any obstacles which presents a threat to life obligates as a mitzvah asei that it be removed and [the public] be warned against it, as is written, `Guard yourself and heed your life.' and if it is not removed and allowed to remain as a dangerous obstacle, it constitutes a voiding of a positive mitzvah and also indicts a person on the grounds of 'you shall not cause blood...' One who endangers himself is guilty of the highest form of self-negligence."
In conclusion, the rabbonim warn the parents who buy such things for their children that they are putting a stumbling block before them in a very severe matter and that they are to blame.
What makes these vehicles especially dangerous is the relatively high speeds that they achieve, much faster than a pedaled bicycle. The speed makes any accident dangerous, even when the rider is wearing a helmet.
See also the warning recently issued by Hatzoloh in Rockland County.
