Published: 27th June 2022

Today marks the beginning of APIL’s Injury Prevention Week 2022. This year, the topic in the spotlight is e-scooters, with the aim of highlighting the legislative and practical measures that will protect people and reduce the number of e-scooter accidents.

Undoubtedly, e-scooters have many benefits, including their convenience, wide accessibility and eco-friendly credentials. However, it is hard not to acknowledge the growing amount of e-scooter accidents and casualties, which is extremely concerning and calls for action to be taken.

As the usage of e-scooters is set to increase across the UK, especially with upcoming law changes which will see private e-scooters legalised on our roads, we believe educating road users on how to use e-scooters safely should be a top priority in order to reduce preventable injuries and to keep everybody safe on the roads.

In this article, we highlight the key e-scooter statistics to be aware of, injury prevention measures, and some key e-scooter laws that you should know as an e-scooter rider.

E-scooter Accidents: The Key Statistics

• 1,280 collisions involving e-scooters were reported in 2021, compared to 460 in 2020.
• 1,359 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters were reported in 2021, compared to 484 in 2020.
• 960 people were reported as slightly injured.
• 390 people were reported as seriously injured.
• 9 people were killed in collisions involving e-scooters.

E-scooters: Injury Prevention Measures

Unfortunately e-scooter accidents are likely to occur from time to time, however, there are some prevention measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of being injured.

Look ahead – Of course, it may be tempting to look around you whilst out riding. However, any hazard or danger could arise within a few seconds, therefore it is important to keep your attention on the path ahead of you to observe traffic and others around you.

Wear a helmet – Whilst not mandatory, it is advisable to wear a helmet in order to reduce the severity should you be injured. According to PACTS, over 40% of those who suffered serious injuries in e-scooter collisions sustained head injuries.

Use both hands – Don’t be tempted to check or use your phone whilst riding an e-scooter. By doing this, you are diverting your attention from the road and compromising control of the e-scooter which could easily result in a preventable injury.

Consider your speed – Trial e-scooters in the UK are currently limited to 15.5mph. However, you should make sure to slow down when you don’t have maximum visibility such as when you are turning or if you happen to be checking over your shoulder.

E-scooters: Know the laws

• Currently, the use of private e-scooters on UK roads is illegal. Public use is only permitted by trial schemes, currently operating across various cities in the UK.
• E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means that the rules that apply to motor vehicles, also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a driving licence, insurance and tax.
• Insurance for privately owned e-scooters on the roads is not currently available, which means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces.
• Trials of rental e-scooters are taking place in the UK. Anyone using a rental e-scooter on a public road or other public space, has to comply with the relevant road traffic legislation.
• To rent an e-scooter you must be at least 16 years old, hold the correct driving licence (category Q or P/M) and create an account with the rental company.
• It’s legal to use an e-scooter on private land with the permission of the landowner.

The government recently announced their intentions to legalise e-scooters on public roads in the near future. Find about more about the the proposed upcoming law changes for e-scooters, which are set to come into effect in 2022.

Staying safe on the roads

As serious injury solicitors, we see the devastating effects of road accidents on a regular basis and are dedicated to helping those who have sustained a serious injury to rebuild their life and move forward.

Therefore, in this year’s Injury Prevention Week, we would like to take the opportunity to encourage all e-scooter users to consider a safety first approach by following the prevention measures above, and remaining vigilant when using an e-scooter on public roads.

Our specialist team have dealt with a vast array of road accident cases and have recently taken on a number of e-scooter accident cases. Our extensive experience with high value and complex serious injury claims enables us to regularly achieve the best outcome for each of our clients.

If you find yourself injured as a result of an e-scooter accident, please do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced and qualified team for expert legal advice.

As always, we wish everyone safe travels; however, if you or any of your family or friends are involved in an accident on the roads and require legal assistance from a Top Tier Legal 500 rated law firm, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We can be contacted on 0330 058 0377 for a free, confidential conversation with a qualified, serious injury solicitor. Alternatively, please send us your contact details to enquiry@seriouslaw.co.uk, and one of our team will be in touch. All enquiries are free and confidential.

Reference material: Many of the statistics in this post are sourced from the gov.uk website.