999 meters — this is the length of the longer tube of the Bôrik tunnel on the D1 highway, and it was exactly through this tunnel last week that two young people rode electric scooters. Surveillance cameras recorded them in the middle of heavy car traffic — without helmets or any protection. The Prešov Region police published a video and reminded that the highway is not a bike path, and such “fun” could have ended in tragedy in seconds.
What happened on the D1
The Bôrik tunnel is located between the villages of Mengusovce and Jánovce in the Prešov Region (administrative region), under the Tatras. It is a two-part structure with tubes 999 and 993 meters long, laid under the Bôrik mountain (992 m) in the Kozie chrbty massif. A place where even car drivers need to be focused. A scooter in the darkness of the tunnel is practically invisible to other road users.
“By their riding, they endangered not only their own lives and health but also other drivers. Moreover, they did not have the necessary protective elements,” the police explained. They reminded that the highway is intended exclusively for mechanical vehicles: pedestrians, cyclists, and scooters are prohibited from entering it. Separately, the police addressed parents — to watch their children and talk to them about road safety because “one moment of carelessness can have serious consequences.”
And this is not an isolated case. A few days earlier, the Bratislava Region police detained a cyclist, a pedestrian, and another scooter driver on the D4 and D2 highways. It seems navigation and lack of experience regularly lead people onto high-speed roads.
From September 1, rules will become stricter
The incident happened just before changes: in two weeks, on September 1, 2026, an amendment to the road traffic law will come into force in Slovakia, which directly concerns owners of electric scooters (elektrické kolobežky). Many Ukrainians have them — both those commuting to work and delivery couriers.
According to the new rules, electric scooters with a design speed over 25 km/h will be prohibited. Powerful models that easily accelerate to 40–50 km/h will be considered vehicles not approved for road use by law.
The penalties are significant:
- A fine from 150 to 800 euros for using an unapproved vehicle.
- A possible ban on driving vehicles for up to three years.
A separate nuance is insurance. For certain types of electric scooters that by their characteristics fall under the definition of mechanical vehicles, mandatory PZP (povinné zmluvné poistenie — compulsory liability insurance) already applies. For its absence, the fine can reach 5000 euros, and according to Slovak media, even Slovaks themselves often forget about this obligation.
What you should do now
If you ride an electric scooter in the city or commute to work with it, check the technical specifications of your model before September. The key parameter is the design speed: if it is higher than 25 km/h, from September 1 such a scooter will be illegal on the road, even if you ride slowly.
Basic rules already apply: scooters are prohibited from highways and expressways, and riding without a helmet and reflective elements threatens life first, not just your wallet. More details about roads, trains, and travel rules in the country are collected in our section about transport in Slovakia.
Judging by the video from the Bôrik tunnel, the police monitor highways with cameras — and find violators. Considering the new fines, saving time on the route can cost several hundred euros and loss of your license.
