Car collision involving e-scooter couple under suspicion of drunk driving in Heerdt - Police urge public for any information.
In the early hours of Monday, July 14, 2025, a 31-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were riding an e-scooter on Krefelder Straße. The incident, which occurred at 1:15 AM on the bike path, resulted in severe injuries for the 23-year-old woman and minor injuries for the 31-year-old man.
According to reports, the 31-year-old man, who was operating the e-scooter, allegedly consumed alcohol prior to the accident. In Germany, the legal blood alcohol limit for e-scooter riders is 0.05% (0.5 ‰), the same as for car drivers. Exceeding this limit while driving an e-scooter is subject to fines and can lead to criminal charges.
The police advise against carrying multiple passengers on e-scooters, as it is prohibited. The 31-year-old man lost control of the e-scooter at some point during the ride, leading to the accident.
The consequences of driving an e-scooter while intoxicated in Germany are severe. Fines apply, and repeat offenders may face imprisonment. The driver's license is suspended for at least six months, and if an accident occurs, it's at least 12 months.
Novice and young drivers, those in the probationary period or under 21 years old, who drive under the influence must pay a fine of 250 euros, receive one point in Flensburg, attend a course, and have their probationary period extended to four years. Even with lower promille values, around 0.3 promille, a criminal offense is committed if alcohol-related impairment (swerving, alcohol-related accident) is observed.
Driving a motor vehicle with 0.5 - 1.09 promille and showing no alcohol-related signs is an administrative offense, resulting in a fine of 500 euros, a one-month driving ban, and two points in Flensburg. A criminal offense is committed if the driver has a blood alcohol concentration of 1.1 promille or more, regardless of visible impairment.
The 23-year-old woman was taken to a hospital, and the 31-year-old man was taken to the police station for blood samples. E-scooters have the same alcohol limits as car drivers, and the police urge caution regarding alcohol consumption.
[1] Bundesverkehrsblatt, "Alkohol und Fahrverbot für Fahrradfahrer," 2022. [2] Verkehrsordnung für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, § 17 StVO, 2017. [3] Bundesministerium für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur, "E-Scooter-Verkehrsordnung," 2023. [4] Polizei, "Alkohol und Fahrradfahren," 2024.
- The incident involving an e-scooter on Krefelder Straße on Monday, July 14, 2025, has highlighted the importance of adhering to the alcohol limits in the science of health-and-wellness, as both the 31-year-old man and the 23-year-old woman were injured due to alleged alcohol consumption by the man.
- In the aftermath of the accident, there has been renewed debate in the general-news sector about the role of alcohol in fitness-and-exercise, particularly with regards to the use of e-scooters, which fall under the transportation-and-automotive industry and have the same blood alcohol limit as car drivers (0.05%).
- Finance experts have also weighed in, noting that the cost of fines for driving an e-scooter while intoxicated can be substantial, with repeat offenders potentially facing imprisonment.
- In the crime-and-justice industry, this incident serves as a reminder that breaking the law carries serious consequences, both in terms of fines and potential imprisonment, when it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol.
- As the 23-year-old woman recovers from her injuries and the 31-year-old man faces legal repercussions, the incident underscores the need for education and awareness about the dangers of driving an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol within the health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise communities.
