Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe, has written to the Department for Transport urging the government to put the safety of all road users at the centre of any changes to legislation on the use of e-scooters.
In the letter the PCC urges the Government to implement legislation that, when used outside of private land, ensures e-scooters are only driven in a careful and controlled manner, with police given sufficient powers to enforce their safe use.
He also asks them to commit to reviewing the technical standards of e-scooters, in particular the power, weight and speed at which e-scooters are permitted to run – and to prohibit the sale of unregulated and untested e-scooters.
Currently, e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988, which means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance. It is not currently possible to insure privately owned e-scooters, which means it is illegal to use them on the road or in any public spaces, such as parks, recreational grounds, town centres. Despite private e-scooters being illegal to use in any public space in the UK, sales of e-scooters to private buyers have increased dramatically.
The PCC, who is also chair of Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, recently met with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, whose main training centre is located in Warwickshire. They discussed the real impact that e-scooters place on the visually impaired community. Guide Dogs campaigns to break down the barriers preventing people with a vision impairment from getting around independently.
Research conducted on behalf of Guide Dogs in 2022 found that 80% of people with sight loss who had encountered an e-scooter had one rush past and frighten them; over half changed their behaviour as a result of encountering an e-scooter.
Philip Seccombe, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner said:
“E-scooters being ridden dangerously on public footways pose a risk to everyone; from people going about their everyday lawful business, to parents trying to get around with pushchairs, children walking along the path, older people, and people with disabilities such a sight loss. An e-scooter can really frighten and affect the confidence of some of the most vulnerable people in our society and that just isn’t right. As they are currently unregulated, there are e-scooters being illegally modified that are exceptionally powerful and fast, and they are being ridden on our streets. A collision involving an e-scooter can cause serious injuries to both the rider and pedestrians.
Urgent action needs to be taken to introduce guidance backed by enforceable legislation that will be embraced by all, to give us the greatest chance that e-scooters are used properly, safely and in the right place. This needs to be well thought out and there needs to be plenty of opportunity via consultation with the public.”
Jessica Luke, Regional Policy and Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs said:
“People with a vision impairment often rely on hearing to safely navigate from A to B. The almost silent nature of e-scooters makes them difficult to detect and avoid. Even a near miss with an e-scooter can be enough to rob a person with sight loss of their confidence and independence.”
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has launched of a new resource, Scoot Smart, which forms part of a wider timely campaign to raise awareness of the law and risks surrounding Electrical scooters (e-scooters).
Find out more at the WRSP website at https://warksroadsafety.org/2024/11/25/scoot-smart-this-christmas-and-dont-buy-e-scooters-as-presents/
