Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, says the government needs to stop the expansion of e scooter trials, before it loses control of the issue.
Electric scooter trials are currently being rolled out in many towns and cities, including Canterbury and London, but the PCC says they should be halted and reviewed before more people are hurt.
E scooters are becoming more popular and there are currently about 50 government-backed trials running in towns and cities across the UK. There are more than 7500 rental scooters in use, however more than 800 incidents have been reported to local authorities and 122 users have been banned from using them as part of trials in the future. Figures obtained by ITV suggest there have been more than 200 injuries and over 1000 complaints since the pilots began.
However, outside these schemes, it is still illegal to use them on the roads or pavements. It’s also an offence to use them at all if you’re under 18. Despite that, sales have grown* and they’re being used by children and adults alike.
Matthew Scott thinks their use must be reviewed before trials are expanded further. He said: “Inconsiderate riders are becoming a menace on our roads and pavements, ignoring the law and causing dangers for other road users. We urgently need decisive action now on their future, as we’re in danger of losing control of the issue and placing additional burdens on policing.
“Too many people are using them in places they shouldn’t and we need to stop them being bought for young people.
“There should be no more roll outs until work is done with retailers, manufacturers and the public to make sure they are safe and people understand the law.”