DfT urged to take action to address dangerous e-scooter use
News
21 Mar 2022
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) is urging the Department for Transport to take immediate action to address dangerous and illegal private e-scooter use, after it found that there have been at least fifteen deaths from July 2019 to February 2022.
PACTS was awarded a grant by the Road Safety Trust to collect data relating to incidents involving micro-mobility devices and to form recommendations for their construction and use.
The unsafe nature of some private e-scooters, and irresponsible use by some, is leading to serious casualties and risks harming efforts by rental operators and local authorities seeking to provide a safe, low-carbon mobility option.
While the government-approved e-scooter rental trials are intended to assess safety, there is little or no current measure of the impact of the safety of private e-scooter on riders and other road users.
PACTS recommends that the DfT takes immediate action to address dangerous and illegal private e-scooter use; undertakes a thorough public consultation before making any decision on the legalisation of e-scooters; and commission further research.
If the Government decides to legalise use of private e-scooters, it should adopt regulations for their construction as per the below:
- Maximum possible speed of 12.5mph (20km/h)
- Maximum continuous rated motor power of 250 W
- Anti-tampering mechanisms should be included in constructionTampering should be prohibited by law
- Minimum front wheel size of 12 inches (30.5cm) and minimum rear wheel size of 10 inches (25.5cm)
- Two independently controlled braking devices, one acting on the front wheel and one acting on the rear wheel
- Lighting to be mandatory at all times
- Maximum unladen weight of 20kg
- An audible warning device to be mandatory
- Helmet wearing to be mandatory
- Riding on the footway (pavement) or footpath to be prohibited
- Rider age limit of at least 16 years
- Carrying of a passenger to be prohibited
- Drink driving, dangerous or careless riding, and handheld mobile phone use to be prohibited
- In-person rider training and third-party insurance are recommended
