Private e-scooters ‘legal by next month’

privately-owned electric scooters are set to become legal on the roads as early as next month after Grant Shapps said trials involving the vehicles were a ‘success’.

at present, only e-scooters to rent as part of a government-backed scheme can be used on public highways.

But the transport Secretary yesterday confirmed ministers will now move to legalise privately-owned devices, of which there are more than a million.

Quizzed by Mps on the Commons transport committee, Mr Shapps said ministers would ‘enable’ their use where ‘appropriate and responsible’. the Department for transport later confirmed an announcement would be included in the Queen’s Speech next month.

the move will be controversial as police chiefs say e-scooters have enabled hundreds of crimes while campaigners have warned of their use on pavements and pedestrians being mowed down.

those used in the trials have a maximum speed of 15.5mph, but there are concerns scooters are being illegally modified to go at over 40mph.

Until now ministers have said they will wait to analyse data from the trials, due to end later this year, before making a decision. But Mr Shapps told the committee: ‘there have been 30-plus trials and i think they’ve broadly been very successful. there have been no fatalities in the trials at all.’

But Simon Jupp, Mp for east Devon, branded them ‘mechanical menaces’ which have been involved in 11 deaths and 900 collisions. ‘you’ve unleashed the beast,’ he said. ‘this wouldn’t have occurred without the trials taking place.’

Mr Shapps replied: ‘if these things exist they need to be made safe and i think the trials have been useful in gathering data. if you go to any other country you’ll see them.’

He also pledged a regulatory regime would mean they can be safely ridden, adding: ‘We will crack down on the private market and make it illegal to sell e-scooters which don’t meet regulatory standards.’

New laws could include buyers having to prove they have a driver’s licence, wearing helmets, speed caps and devices having a registration number.

in November, a Daily Mail investigation revealed ambulance call-outs to e-scooter incidents have shot up by 540 per cent over two years. the london Fire Brigade says it has attended 98 fires caused by e-scooters and e-bikes since the start of this year.

‘Modified to go at over 40mph’