Have you or anyone you know been injured by an e-scooter or are you concerned about the lack of regulation of these vehicles?
If you have been injured or have concerns and think they should be much more tightly regulated please email us at mail@dpac.uk.net with details.
Background
With people told to avoid public transport amid the coronavirus, the government has said that rental e-scooters will be legal on roads in Great Britain from July 4th.
What is an e-scooter?
They’re two-wheeled scooters with small, electric motors. Some travel as fast as 30 mph although others are limited to 15.5 mph. Either are very fast.
Their popularity has grown and scooter-sharing schemes now operate in more than 100 cities around the world – including San Francisco, Paris and Copenhagen.
People can hire e-scooters in a way similar to city centre bicycle hire schemes.
Electric scooters are freely available to buy in the UK online and in stores, and they cost anywhere from just over £100 to more than £1000.
Currently, you can buy one but you can’t ride it on a UK public road, cycle lane or pavement. Anyone who does is committing an offence.
The only place an e-scooter can be used is on private land, with the permission of the landowner.
At the moment, they are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles, and are treated as motor vehicles and are subject to all the same legal requirements – MOT, tax, licensing and specific construction. Because they don’t always have visible rear red lights, number plates or signalling ability, they can’t be used legally on the roads.
Normal scooters, those without motors, are not allowed on pavements or cycle paths – but they can be used on roads.
Rules for e-scooter users
There are 2 requirements in primary legislation that are not being amending for trials. First, e-scooters in trials are required to be covered by a motor vehicle insurance policy, by their provider. Secondly, e-scooter users are required to have a driving licence in some form. Users should be over 16 years of age.
This definitely needs regularating poor friend so badly hurt
Hi Annette,
I’m sorry to hear your friend was injured, I hope they have recovered well.
I am investigating the safety of e-scooters and would be interested in hearing more about your friend’s story.
Please let me know if they would be interested in sharing their story, and I can share more details with you
Thank you!
Charlie
we have passed this onto her to contact you