Authorities in Northamptonshire are teaming up with Voi to raise awareness of the rules of the road for e-scooters and e-bikes.
The key aim of the campaign, launched in partnership with Northamptonshire Police and North and West Northamptonshire Councils, is to ensure everyone using the roads knows how to stay safe at junctions and roundabouts.
There have been nearly 5.5 million journeys on Voi e-scooters since the e-scooter trials started in the region three years ago – and most are completed without any problems.
Voi users must complete online training when signing up to the app which covers regulations for using e-scooters and e-bikes including safety requirements. This is supported by recent ongoing in-person safety training in the county.
However, there have been some collisions, prompting the launch of the campaign.
Matt O’Connell, safer roads team manager, Northamptonshire Police, said: “The Voi e-scooters have been in the county for nearly three years now and offer a greener, more sustainable way to travel.
“Since they launched in 2020, we have worked closely with Voi on e-scooter safety and continue to have regular meetings with them to identify and manage any issues.
“We wholeheartedly back this campaign as it’s really important for drivers to be aware that they now share the roads with e-scooter riders who are vulnerable road users.
“This means ensuring that a driver is alert and aware of their surroundings, that they give e-scooters plenty of space when passing and to watch out for them at junctions.
“Similarly, this campaign is also targeted at e-scooter riders who need to ensure they are also riding sensibly – not on the pavement, at safe speeds and fully aware of their surroundings.”
Stuart Johnson broke his leg in four places after he was knocked off an e-scooter by a delivery driver turning left, in Northampton, in January this year.
He said: “I welcome this campaign and hope it will prevent further accidents like mine.
“E-scooters are still a relatively new form of transport, but I do believe they’re here to stay. Improvements to the E scooter and its technology are continuously being made and introduced, to improve the riders safety.
“However, I strongly believe a major cause of road accidents relate to general road users and a lack of particular awareness. For me, it’s essential that the general perception of the hazard is improved.
“I sincerely hope through this campaign that going forward we all learn to share the road more safely with each other.”
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