E-Scooters – What you need to know about the law before you buy one for Christmas

Kelly Richardson

Chartered Legal Executive

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December 15, 2021

Categories Personal Injury Claims

Back in July, I explained that most privately owned Electric Scooters or “E-Scooters” are illegal to ride in the UK except on private land. However, they were (and indeed still are) increasingly popular as a cheap and eco-friendly method of transport.

As E-Scooters continue to be extremely popular, especially amongst teens, I can imagine they have made an appearance on many Christmas lists this year. So, if you are considering buying one for a gift or you have put it on your own wish list, you really must understand the law.

  • Two wheeled E-Scooters fit the definition of a motorcycle meaning that a helmet, licence and compulsory basic motorcycle training (CBT) are required. This makes it almost impossible for E-Scooters to be driven legally on the road.
  • If you are considering purchasing an E-Scooter then you should also be aware that the Police have the power to serve a fixed penalty notice for no insurance with a £300 fine and 6 penalty points.

In terms of safety, recent figures showed that at least 3 people had died and more than 700 people have been injured in accidents involving E-Scooters in the last year. 37 of the casualties suffered injuries that were described as “serious” which is not surprising given the numerous safety concerns surrounding E-Scooters.

The small wheels can make the scooter become very unstable on uneven surfaces. If the rider hits a pothole whilst traveling at speed, they can be thrown forward more quickly which can lead to a serious head injury.

Furthermore, Transport for London have also announced that from Monday 13 December 2021 you are no longer allowed to carry e-scooters or e-unicycles on TfL services or any of their premises, even when folded. This safety step comes after defective lithium-ion batteries in privately-owned e-scooters and e-unicycles caused fires in their network.

Taking the above into consideration, anyone contemplating purchasing an E-Scooter this Christmas should really think twice and ensure they fully understand the law and the implications of using one in a public place. Moreover, the risk of being injured whilst using an E-Scooter is incredibly high.

If you have been in an accident involving an E-Scooter, contact us for a free consultation to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact Kelly Richardson in the Furley Page Personal Injury Team on 01227 763939 for advice about your injury claims.

 

See Kelly’s blog about e-scooters from July 2021 > 

 

Notes to editors

Image of e-scooter: Care of KM Online and Bird, illustrating electric scooters that are available for hire in Canterbury as part of a government-backed trial

Further stories about Bird’s e-scooter trial in Canterbury, Kent:

https://mindthezag.com/places/a-birds-tale-as-e-scooters-make-the-pilgrimage-to-canterbury/

https://www.kent.ac.uk/transport/cycling/escooter/

Government website information about e-scooters:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legalising-rental-e-scooter-trials-defining-e-scooters-and-rules-for-their-use/legalising-rental-e-scooter-trials