Electric scooters can be legalised subsequent yr enabling them for use on public roads within the UK for the primary time. A brand new Transport Bill launched within the Queen’s Speech earlier this week authorised privately-owned e-scooters for use in public.
A Government spokeswoman mentioned: “While riding a privately owned e-scooter on public land is currently illegal, we are considering how best to design future regulations and our Transport Bill will help us to take the steps we need to make e-scooters safer and support innovation.”
In a poll that ran from 10am on Thursday, May 12, to 4pm on Friday, May 13, Express.co.uk requested: “Should electric scooters be banned in the UK?”
A complete of two,568 folks solid their votes with the overwhelming majority, 89 % (2,295 folks), answering “yes”, electrical scooters needs to be banned.
An extra 10 % (260 folks) mentioned “no” and only one % (13 folks) mentioned they didn’t know both method.
Dozens of feedback had been left under the accompanying article with readers sharing their views on electrical scooters.
Many had issues in regards to the security of legalising e-scooters with username proudscot writing: “This is beyond comprehension. Disaster is bound to happen.”
Username Wiser1 mentioned: “Yes definitely. Dangerous for pedestrians and other road users as well as the scooter users.”
While username The final Duke of Taibach. mentioned e-scooters had been a “menace to pedestrians”.
Recent analysis performed by Nextbase, the UK’s main British Dash Cam model, discovered that e-scooter riders are 16 instances extra prone to be injured in a collision than a automotive passenger, leaving younger and untrained riders susceptible.
Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, mentioned: “It will come as no surprise that we have seen an increase in the amount of serious e-scooter collisions from our dash cam users…and we can only see this trend continuing.”
Figures from a freedom of data request to all NHS Ambulance Trusts by the Major Trauma Group additionally revealed that 173 sufferers had been taken to A&E following an e-scooter accident in 2021, up from 124 in 2020.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned the Government meant to “introduce laws to permit the Government to control e-scooters within the 2022–23 session.
“The Government would then have the ability to stipulate that each one e-scooters offered met sure requirements regarding velocity, energy and lights, amongst different issues.”
The Government spokeswoman added: “Safety will always be our top priority and our trials are helping us to better understand the benefits of properly regulated, safety-tested e-scooters and their impact on public space.”
Username C52J said: “If e-scooters are to be legalised, the Government must also legislate that they are registered, speed-limited, insured, subjected to checks for roadworthiness. The riders should also be required to take a proficiency test.”
Mr Shapps has backed the plan as part of strategies to reduce carbon emissions.
Some readers were in favour of e-scooters being legalised due to their environmental benefits.
Username Mrlumpay said: “It is about time they legalise them. They will cut pollution, cut congestion and make it easier and more practical for those with short commutes.
“The people that ride them dangerously will buy and ride them regardless of the law. Keeping them illegal only restricts the sensible riders who abide by rules.”
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Trevor Sterling, chair of the Major Trauma Group and senior partner at the law firm Moore Barlow, said: “E-transport technology is very exciting and will support the UK in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
“A change in the law to legalise private e-scooter use would hold e-scooters to a high standard of safety and help to lower greenhouse gas emissions from transport, as well as cutting congestion and repurposing streets away from cars.
“We must prioritise educating road users on the changing nature of our roads to keep everyone safe.
“It is only when all types of e-scooters are subject to the same rigorous standard of safety that we will see a reduction in preventable incidents and less strain on the NHS.”