Private electric scooters could soon be seen on public roads across the UK after the Transport Secretary hinted that the vehicles could be legalised.
Currently, it is against the law to use a privately owned e-scooter on public land and riders could face fines, penalty points on their licence and the vehicle could be impounded if they use them illegally.
However, these rules could change in the coming years following an admission from Transport Secretary Louise Haigh this morning.
When asked by the Commons Transport Select Committee if she plans to change laws regarding the use of e-scooters, Haigh said: "We will look to legislate, absolutely."
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There have been growing concerns about the safety of e-scooters
PAThe Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley added: "It’s clearly required. It's not good enough that it’s been left in this situation for too long."
Haigh continued, saying that electric scooters could be a "really effective part of an integrated transport strategy", especially for those with accessibility needs.
However, the Transport Secretary also noted the road safety elements, which have often been criticised. She said the Department for Transport would "really carefully analyse what journeys they are replacing, and the behavioural impact of e-scooters".
E-scooters are already seen on roads across the UK, although these are part of trial schemes operated by private companies.
Data from the Department for Transport shows that there were 1,402 collisions involving e-scooters in 2022 - a jump of around 650 compared to the previous year.
A total of 12 people were killed in collisions involving e-scooters compared to 10 in 2021. 11 of those killed in 2022 were riding e-scooters.
In July, transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) called on the Government to introduce new measures to accelerate progress being made to legalise private e-scooters.
In a letter to the Transport Secretary, CoMoUK highlighted how rental schemes could help the UK achieve net zero targets and reduce the number of polluting cars on the road.
More recently, there have also been fears about the fire risk they pose. It is believed that 199 fires took place in 2023 which involved an e-bike or e-scooter, with the vast majority of these being reported by the London Fire Brigade.
Data from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) noted how this was an increase compared to the year before, despite a rise in engagement with fire and rescue services.
Nationwide e-scooter trials were originally set to end on August 31, 2020, but were continually extended to grasp a better understanding of their impact on daily travel, which was impacted by long periods of lockdown.
Most rental e-scooter trials have been extended by local authorities to look at the benefits and drawbacks of the transport options and how they could help mobility in cities.
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Rental e-scooters are restricted to a maximum speed of 15.5mph
GETTYUnder the rules outlined by the Government, electric scooters involved in trials across the country must be fitted with an electric motor with a maximum power rating of 500W.
It is designed to carry no more than one person, has a maximum speed of 15.5mph, has a mass not exceeding 55kg and has only two wheels.
