E-scooter safety calls after six die in crashes this year

Six people were killed in e-scooter crashes last year, and hundreds more were injured, sparking calls for a change in the law.

- ALEX ROSS

Families of victims, police and MPs are calling on the government to urgently update e-scooter legislation as new figures showed dozens of people are hurt in incidents every week. Last year, there were 1,387 injuries involving e-scooters, according to police figures published by the Department for Transport (DfT). Of the reported casualties last year, six died, while 416 were seriously injured.

Currently, privately owned e-scooters, deemed as motorised vehicles, cannot be legally ridden on roads or pavements. There are government-backed trial schemes for 15.5mph-capped rental scooters in 20 areas across the country – however, the latest figures on ownership show there were more than one million privately owned devices in the UK.

Matthew Barber, Thames Valley police and crime commissioner, said the lack of registration on the devices meant they were attractive for criminal gangs wanting to move around without detection from police. “I share the concerns of many residents about the dangerous and reckless riding of e-bikes and escooters,” said Mr Barber, who highlighted a woman recently suffering serious head injuries after being hit by an e-scooter in Milton Keynes. “We need to look at regulation so we can ensure these devices are ridden safely and not at some crazy speed that poses serious risks to the public.”