Skater Caught Towing Moving Car in Campinas

The event took place on Avenida Andrade Neves during the morning hours of the 27th. Eyewitness footage captures a man on roller skates physically attached to a passenger vehicle. The skater is seen maintaining balance by holding onto the lateral window frame of the car as it moves forward.

This type of movement creates a direct hazard in active traffic lanes. The visual evidence confirms the skater was traveling alongside the vehicle rather than on designated pedestrian or cycling infrastructure. The specific location is a major thoroughfare in the city of Campinas, SP.

The Empresa Municipal de Desenvolvimento de Campinas (Emdec) clarified the legal standing of roller skaters under the Código de Trânsito Brasileiro (CTB). Although a roller skate is not considered a vehicle, users must adhere to specific safety regulations while circulating on public roads.

According to the CTB, the following requirements apply to skaters:

• Mandatory use of safety gear, including helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and protective gloves.
• Restricted movement to ciclovias (cycle paths) and ciclofaixas (cycle lanes).
• Strict prohibition against circulating alongside vehicular traffic on main roadways.

These regulations are designed to minimize risks to the skater and other road users. The Emdec emphasized that circulating alongside cars, as seen in the recent incident, violates these safety protocols.

Responsibility for this type of traffic violation extends to the vehicle operator. The Emdec stated that a driver who allows a skater to tow themselves from the vehicle commits a grave traffic infraction.

Beyond administrative fines, the driver may face criminal liability. If an accident were to occur as a result of this conduct, the driver could be charged with lesão corporal grave (grievous bodily harm). This legal stance underscores the severity with which authorities view the endangerment of non-occupants on the roadway.

The primary concern regarding skaters interacting with motor vehicles is the high risk of injury. Roller skates lack the braking capabilities and protective structure of a motor vehicle. Any sudden stop or maneuver by the driver, or a loss of balance by the skater, can result in severe trauma.

By restricting skaters to ciclovias and ciclofaixas, the CTB aims to separate high-speed pedestrian traffic from heavy vehicular traffic. The recent incident in Campinas serves as a stark example of the disregard for these separation mandates, placing the skater in a vulnerable position directly adjacent to a moving car.