Private electric scooters could become legal on UK roads Bedford News

Private electric scooters could soon be allowed on UK roads according to plans revealed by Transport Minister Grant Shapps.

Mr Shapps said legislation to properly regulate their use would be included in the Queen’s Speech on May 10.

Currently, electric scooters can only be used on the roads if they are part of officially recognized trials. These trials are taking place in 32 towns across England and using scooters fitted with automatic lights and a top speed limited to 15.5mph.

However, the unregulated use of private electric scooters is a growing problem across the country, with an increasing number of collisions and injuries involving riders.

Mr Shapps told the Commons Transport Select Committee that ‘in the future I want to crack down on the illegal use on the roads of non-compliant electric scooters’.

Around one million e-scooters have been sold in the UK, but models outside trial programs can only be used on private land. Drivers caught using an electric scooter on public roads face the same penalties as other drivers breaking the law, including fines of up to £300 and up to six penalty points.

Reacting to Mr Shapp’s announcement to the Commons Transport Select Committee, committee member Simon Jupp expressed concern over the plan, saying there had been ‘900 collisions, 11 of which were fatal’.

Mr Shapps replied: ‘We will take powers to properly regulate and then can decide how to use them.

“They are a reality, they exist.

“If these things exist, they need to be secure, and I think the trials have been helpful in collecting data and there is still data to be collected.”

Electric scooters are considered by many to be an affordable and convenient mode of urban transport, but there are safety concerns for both drivers and other road users.

New figures obtained from the NHS show a sharp rise in incidents involving electric scooters in recent years.

Data obtained by the Major Trauma Group from ambulance trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland showed that 713 e-scooter related crashes were attended by NHS ambulance vehicles in 2021, up from 392 l ‘last year. The data also reveals that the number of patients referred to A&E after electric scooter accidents increased by 40% between 2020 and 2021, with 173 patients taken to their local A&E in 2021.

Speaking after the committee session, AA President Edmund King said: ‘The government is right to tackle this problem and introduce regulations rather than allowing some of our towns to be overrun like the Wild West with illegal scooters.

“Micro-mobility and electronic technology can have a positive effect on travel in our cities, but we need to ensure travel is safe.”

RAC traffic policy manager Nicholas Lyes said the government had “a lot to consider” if it was to make the use of electric scooters legal and safe.

He commented: “There is no doubt that e-scooters have the potential to transform the way many of us move around, and potentially even reduce the number of short trips taken by car. The legalization of private electric scooters is a big step forward, however, and it is crucial that their use is regulated to ensure the safety of drivers and all who use the roads.

“There are a lot of things the government needs to consider to reassure people that introducing more electric scooters to our roads can be done safely – like how they can be kept out of the way. sidewalks and pedestrian areas, and whether they should be covered by compulsory insurance and built to meet certain standards. The concerns of groups, including those representing the visually impaired, must also be taken into account, as in the wrong hands electric scooters can cause serious injury.