Don’t buy an e-scooter for Christmas
10/11/2021
Public reminded that using a privately owned e-scooter in any public place is illegal
If you are thinking of buying an e-scooter for Christmas – don’t. That’s the message from the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, who are urging us not to buy e-scooters because it’s currently against the law to ride a privately owned e-scooter in any public place in the UK.
E-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles 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.
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 most people will be breaking the law if they use an e-scooter.
“As well as being illegal, we have real concerns about the safety of e-scooters. In the first ten months of 2021, nationally there have been nine deaths and other casualties involving both e-scooter riders and other road users.”
Some parts of the country, including Oxford city, are currently taking part in Government trials for e-scooter hire. Outside of Oxford the hiring of an e-Scooter is not currently allowed.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
