E-step or kick scooter? What the Herentals teenager's crash should teach parents in Flanders
A 14-year-old girl on a step was injured in a collision in Herentals, according to Het Nieuwsblad's Kempen desk.
In 30 seconds
- A 14-year-old girl riding a step was injured in a collision in Herentals, per Het Nieuwsblad's regional Kempen desk.
- Early reporting did not specify the severity of her injuries, the exact location, whether the step was electric, or the other party involved.
- Belgian outlets generally do not name minors in accident reports, and further detail may not be released.
- As of 2026, federal rules require e-step riders to be at least 16, allow one rider per device, and ban pavement riding above walking pace (source: mobilit.belgium.be / Wegcode).
A 'step' in Dutch can mean either a non-motorised kick scooter or an electric step (e-step). In Belgium the two are regulated very differently. Kick scooters carry no minimum age and are treated like pedestrians/cyclists. E-steps, since a federal reform effective 1 July 2022, require riders to be at least 16, permit only one person per device, ban pavement riding above walking pace, and must use cycle lanes where available. The federal mobility service (mobilit.belgium.be) and the Wegcode/Code de la route set these rules; the Vias institute publishes the safety data. Herentals is a town in the Kempen region of Antwerp province, Flanders.
Background
Belgium left e-steps lightly regulated during their rapid rise in the late 2010s, then moved to tighten the rules as injury numbers grew. A federal reform effective 1 July 2022 introduced the current framework: a minimum age of 16 for e-steps, a one-rider limit, a pavement-riding ban above walking pace, and mandatory use of cycle lanes where present. Non-electric kick scooters were left outside these restrictions.
What to do
Check first whether your step is electric or not, and apply the right rule (no age limit for kick scooters; age 16 for e-steps as of 2026). Fit a helmet for children, ensure working lights and reflective clothing, keep to one rider on the cycle lane rather than the pavement, and verify current rules at mobilit.belgium.be and wegcode.be.
Impact
Regional — Herentals and the wider Kempen are typical of Flemish towns where steps are common for the school commute. Local police zones and the Antwerp public prosecutor handle traffic-incident follow-up, and Flemish municipalities including Antwerp have been introducing parking bays and speed-limited zones for shared e-steps.
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This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.