To improve road safety and support responsible e-scooter use on campus, KAUST has updated its Road Safety Code.
Micromobility, such as traditional electric-scooters and bicycles, remains a convenient and eco-friendly way to move around KAUST. However, community members may have recently seen a new category of larger, more powerful electric scooters appearing on campus. These models are growing in number and often do not look or act like typical micromobility devices.
These larger scooters can travel at much higher speeds and are often designed to carry passengers, unlike basic commuter e-scooters. Because their capabilities are different, they present greater safety risks and are associated with more severe injuries in road traffic incidents. This made it necessary to create a new classification and update our policies in the interest of Keeping KAUST Safe.
The updated Code introduces tiered safety requirements based on an e-scooter’s power and features.
Key changes for electric scooter use
The existing requirements for basic commuter e-scooters (under 350W and under 36V) remain unchanged. However, all other e-scooter types (any scooter 350W or >36V) must now meet the following requirements:
- Riders must hold a valid KSA-recognized driving license.
- The e-scooter must display a KAUST registration plate issued by Security and a visible motor power label.
- It must be equipped with a working speedometer and functional indicator lights.
- Passenger transport is limited to one person, seated on a dedicated pillion seat.
The table below shows the difference between pre-existing e-scooter types and new models with the above requirements.
KAUST plate issuance
All vehicle plate requests should be submitted via https://vms.kaust.edu.sa.
New request: Ensure that all request attachments are correct, valid, and complete.
- A valid driver’s license.
- A registration document (Any documents proving the vehicle’s ownership, e.g., purchase order, sale invoices, email agreement, etc.)
Cancellation or transfer: Anyone wishing to cancel or transfer ownership of a vehicle plate must submit a request through https://vms.kaust.edu.sa.
Lost & found plate: Cases of lost and found plates must be reported to Security through the online reporting channel.
For information on car or motorcycle driving license procedures, please visit the GA Website for the most up-to-date requirements.
These new rules help ensure safer, more responsible use of all micromobility devices across KAUST. We encourage all community members to review the KAUST Road Safety Code for further details.
For questions or training support, please contact hse@kaust.edu.sa or visit the HSE website.
Thank you for doing your part in Keeping KAUST safe.