BBK Manifesto: Update e-scooter legislation
We call for laws to be introduced to regulate e-scooter usage.
Figures from the Department for Transport, released in November 2023, found in the year ending June 2023, there were:
- 1,269 collisions involving e-scooters
- 1,355 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters
- 7 individuals killed in collisions involving e-scooters
Based on these figures alone, there is a clear need for action. Combine this with the patchwork nature of current legislation for e-scooters however, and the need for clarity is obvious.
E-scooters are classed as Personal Electric Vehicles and are treated as ‘motor vehicles’ in the law, meaning riders must have a licence, insurance and tax to ride them on roads. However, this legislation does not work as it is currently not possible to obtain insurance and tax to ride privately owned e-scooters on public roads.
E-scooters can only be ridden on roads legally through rental trial schemes. These schemes are being run in towns and cities across the UK. The e-scooters used in the trials are limited to 15.5mph, have lights as safety features and are age-restricted. Whilst many of the schemes were due to end in Summer 2021, they have continued to be extended.
The legislation on privately owned e-scooters is contradictory and desperately needs updating. The technology and popularity of e-scooters are rapidly outpacing the legislation. The Government must ensure this is rectified to prevent any further unnecessary deaths or injuries caused by e-scooters and enabled those injured in e-scooter crashes to access compensation.
This blog is part of our #ChampioningChange Campaign, specifically, Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP’s 2024 Manifesto for Injured People. In this campaign we call for politicians and candidates to prioritise injured people as they go into the 2024 General Election. This work is informed by our clients’ experiences and our partnerships with charities which support our clients and others like them. If you would like to read more about our full manifesto you can do so here.
