Should e-scooters remain banned? DID YOU KNOW?
Some people say e-scooters help reduce car use and pollution.
What you need to know
In the UK, it is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter in public. Doing so could result in a fine (money you have to pay because you did something illegal).
However, around a million private e-scooters have been brought into the UK since 2018, and experts think about 750,000 are in use across the country.
E-scooter crashes in London rose from nine in 2018 to more than 250 in the first six months of 2021.
In February, the Government announced that 31 regions in England would try out e-scooter rental schemes, allowing the public to hire them.
The use of electric scooters (e-scooters) in the UK has shot up in recent years. You can spot them zipping around roads and pavements across the country. They have got even more popular since the pandemic because some people prefer them to public transport. However, at the moment it is against the law to use them in public in the UK. The Government is planning to introduce new rules so they can be used legally and safely. In February, the Government announced trials for renting e-scooters in 31 areas of England, saying that they are an environmentally friendly form of transport that reduces pressure on public transport. However, many people feel that e-scooters are dangerous and cause accidents. What do you think? Should e-scooters remain banned?
Yes – they’re a safety hazard
There are too many people who ride e-scooters recklessly on pavements and roads without care for pedestrians (people on foot) and other road users.
It’s no surprise that accidents involving e-scooters are on the rise. In the first half of 2021, there were more accidents involving e-scooters than in all of 2018, and last year 63 pedestrians were badly hurt by e-scooters. Even if the Government introduces laws to regulate e-scooters, they’re dangerous, and although the Government says e-scooters are a green form of transport, their batteries still need to be charged. It would be better to encourage people to cycle and walk, because these are good for people’s health. Keeping the ban would support that message.
No – they’re less polluting than cars
Electric scooters are a fun way to get around in a town or city. In time people will get used to them. It’s hard to imagine but when cars were invented more than 100 years ago, lots of people were angry about them. Unlike cars, though, e-scooters don’t pollute with fumes or cause traffic jams. They help people get around faster and encourage people to explore new places. They also make public transport less busy. The more ways people have to travel, the better. Yes, accidents have happened but other vehicles have risks too. Plus, e-scooters are getting safer and some have indicator signals so you know when the rider is turning left or right. Scooters are here to stay and people should move with the times.