E-scooter hazards all too apparent
No good will come of this new transport phenomenon, says Ian L Handford
THERE is little doubt the legal stance of E-scooters being used on pavements and roads is confusing the public. The police have the power to stop anyone breaking the law, though these board riders are rarely stopped. Pavement users like; walkers, runners, skate board or roller skaters, cyclists, walking stick and infirm or blind people and even the users of mobility chairs are all daily threatened by hyperactive riders of E-scooters/boards as they weave in and out, and on and off pavements before whizzing off to achieve optimum speed.
The legal situation currently allows E-scooters to be hired, where a local authority has signed up to a trial period. Formal trials are being run by 20 UK cities, to inform Parliament of any pitfalls and safety issues before legislation is debated by the House of Commons next Spring. Some authorities have decided NOT to allow “trials” at all, though even in these areas E-scooters may be bought or rented provided they are for use on private land.
Eventually, special rules may apply to E-scooters if legislation is enacted which could include banning any use on pavements, plus a maximum 15mph speed and a provisional or full driving licence. The latter as E-scooters and E-bikes are officially – Personal Light Electric Vehicles – (PLEV’s) which like motor vehicles require road tax, insurance and a licence. Whether or not safety helmets will become compulsory is not clear, although riders must be over 16.
Those who use the E-scooters on private land must get permission of the landowner, a rule already posing challenges for the police and other authorities. Many restrictions are already being ignored in trial areas and it would be interesting to hear from the police if any rider has been stopped and fined, or perhaps ever just tested on their knowledge of current laws.
A number of voices (in addition to mine) have already expressed serious concerns over the lives of pedestrians and/or riders, bearing in mind the instability and poor safety of E-scooters. The situation has been exacerbated by “technical experts” offering free advice on how the speed limiters built in by manufacturers can be disabled, so that speeds of up to 40mph are possible. That makes the E-scooters potential “killing boards” and anyone offering this advice or a video over the internet ought to my mind be open to prosecution, before serious injuries or another death occurs.
The first death by an E-scooter occurred in July 2019 when TV presenter Emily Hartridge died after colliding with a lorry on a main road. The death caused Coventry City Council to immediately “pause their pilot trial” (involving 200 powered boards within the city rental scheme) until such time as E-scooters have been proven safe.
Meanwhile Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP, has confirmed he is to bring the results of “trials of E-scooters” forward, so that legislation is made law within 18 months, making his earlier date in Spring 2021 (when trials end) an important dateline. As the TfL (Transport for London) has failed to convince the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, about the safety criteria of E-scooters, it admits it is still in discussion with numerous London councils and boroughs, regarding details of leasing E-scooters in trial areas.
The City of Westminster and Camden have indicated they support trials while Hackney and Islington have not confirmed their stance; Tower Hamlet Council has given permission for E-scooters to be ridden, although it will not allow scooters to be parked on any street. London being somewhat divided on the use of E-scooters is, as one sceptic commentator says, seeing this issue “rapidly descending into farce” – a view I endorse.
E-scooters and E-bikes (PLEV’s) will I suspect ultimately get a “green light” from Parliament, even though they are unsafe, especially when used by an infirm or non-confident person. The fact that confident young riders have little fear of weaving in and out of moving traffic or pedestrians etc, is certainly going to be a hazard for drivers on the road. Even if the legal speed is limited, this form of new transport would become dangerous to riders and drivers alike, let alone pose an extra challenge to runners on roads, cyclists and even mobile chair users. How on earth the police will monitor the new moving hazard is yet to be addressed and maybe the best the public can hope for is that insurers will lay down very stringent conditions on claims of those who must legally get insured, yet then cause an accident or death once the legislation is enacted.
Ian L Handford was a JP on the South Devon bench for 22 years