The Transport Committee has today (Oct 02) released their report into e-Scooters and how legislation could be put in place to ensure that e-Scooters are safely implemented onto the UK’s streets.
There are currently several trials of rental e-Scooters taking place through out the country, which, as it stands, is the only legal way to ride the scooters on public land.
The report states that despite e-scooters remaining illegal, they are becoming increasingly popular and that they could be a vital tool in reducing emissions by offering a clean, low cost alternative to a car for short journeys.
One of the major concerns raised by report is that of pavement travel, with the report encouraging local authorities to make sure that prohibition of pavement riding is enforced during the trials.
“To ensure that any regulations governing e-scooters are effective in providing a safe environment for both riders and other road users, the Committee makes the following recommendations to Government:
- If the Government legalises e-scooters, users should not be required to have a driving licence for either rental or private use.
- The Department should monitor the number and types of collisions during the trials to determine future insurance requirements for rental and privately owned e-scooters.
- Local authorities should determine the speed of e-scooters in their areas as a ‘one size fits all’ approach will not work.
- The DfT should use the data from the trials to determine which e-scooter design requirements are appropriate for UK roads.
- Helmet use should be encouraged for rental and privately owned e-scooters.
- The DFT along with local authorities should monitor the trials for problems emerging with abandoned e-scooters leading to ‘street clutter’.”
