The Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has joined with Guide Dogs to urge the public not to buy e-scooters this Christmas.
It remains against the law to ride a privately owned e-scooter in any public place in the UK.
The partnership says there are also concerns for the safety of e-scooter riders and other road users including people with sight loss.
Inspector Jem Mountford said: “Before you consider buying an e-scooter this Christmas it’s important to know that although you can buy one, it is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter in any public space including roads, pavements, parks, town centres or canal towpaths for example.
“This means many people will be breaking the law if they use an e-scooter and could put vulnerable road users at risk.”
E-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) so they are treated as motor vehicles and subject to the same legal requirements such as MOT, licensing, tax and insurance.
As e-scooters do not have number plates, signalling ability and don’t always have visible rear lights, they can’t be used legally on the roads.
Warwickshire Police have legal powers to seize e-scooters and prosecute riders and between March 2020 and November 2021 31 e-scooters were seized in Warwickshire.
Whilst penalties for illegal use include a Fixed Penalty Notice for no insurance, with a £300 fine and six penalty points, officers will also be using Section 59 of the Police Reform Act to issue a warning to riders of e-scooters and educate them as to the legal requirements.
If a rider is under 16-years-old then this advice will also be given to the parents.
Alexandra Jones, policy and campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said: “The illegal use of private e-scooters has had a huge, negative impact on people with sight loss.
“E-scooters are heavy, powerful, silent and can reach high speeds. These characteristics, combined with the fact they are often driven on pavements, means they can have severe consequences for people with sight loss.”
“Guide Dogs research shows that nearly 75% of people with sight loss who have encountered an e-scooter have had a negative experience.
“Visually impaired people are already being forced to change their behaviour because of e-scooters, with some changing their regular routes and others not leaving home alone.”
I would be interested to know why people disagree with David Weston. Both e-scooters and bicycles are becoming a real nuisance. The riders seem to think they have a right to ride on footways and footpaths, and heaven help anyone who points out Highway Code Rule 64 to them. It’s not only blind people who are living in fear of them. It’s every pedestrian. It’s high time this nonsense was stopped, but their lack of action on it is creating the impression that local authorities and police approve of it.
Fraser Andrew, STIRLING
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> E-scooters are heavy, powerful, silent and can reach high speeds
So are bicycles.
The best thing to do would be to stop with this hypocrisy.
David Weston, Newcastle upon Tyne
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