Police Scotland, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service and the three Ayrshire Councils are working together to highlight the legal issues surrounding the use of e-scooters.
Here are some frequently asked questions:
Is it illegal to use a scooter on the public highway?
Yes. This is because an e-scooter is considered to be a Private Light Electric Vehicle (PLEV), meaning that it is subject to the same road legislation as other vehicles.
Since it’s not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, it’s therefore illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.
If you use a privately-owned e-scooter in public, you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance.
And if you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter, the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car.
What happens if someone is caught using an e-scooter in a public place?
They can face up to a £600 fine and possibly points on their driver’s licence (in the case of adults).
The police can also confiscate e-scooters when they are ridden in a public space.
Where can you use your own e-scooter?
You can only use it on private land, such as in a garden, but you must have the permission of the landowner to do so.
What’s the difference between e-scooters and e-bikes?
An e-bike is a pedal assist, meaning that the rider must put input into the bike for it to move, whereas e-scooter power comes from the motor and this is the only energy required for it to move.
Legally both e-bikes and e-scooters should be limited to 15.5mph but as e-scooters are sold to use on private land, they can reach up to 30mph or higher if they have been adjusted/adapted after purchase.
Are e-scooters dangerous?
Sadly they can be. There has already been one recorded fatality due to e-scooter use, and other collisions resulting in injury have also occurred due to the use of e-scooters.
In addition, most e-scooters are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which can be charged in the home. On occasion, these batteries can fail catastrophically, they can ‘explode’ and potentially lead to a rapidly developing fire and poisonous fumes.
What’s going to happen next with e-scooters?
The Government is currently undertaking trials in England in relation to e-scooters and the results of these will be known once the trial ends in 2028. These trials will allow the Government to build on current learning across areas including usage, safety and environmental impacts, and to explore changing travel patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please consider the e-scooters information above if you are planning on purchasing an e-scooter this festive season.
At this time of year (and all year round) the Trading Standards team share a host of useful information and updates on the North Ayrshire Trading Standards Facebook page. Give them a follow – any help sharing the posts and updates are much appreciated! More information about the team can be found on the council’s Trading Standards webpage.