Latest news with #Escooter
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE E-scooter riders may be forced to display licence plates, pass a test and have insurance amid crackdown to restore order on streets
E-scooter riders could be forced to display licence plates, pass a test and have insurance under a proposed crackdown aimed at restoring order to the streets. Other measures being drawn up by ministers include a minimum age for users and forcing manufacturers to limit their speed. The aim is to tackle a black market of the 'menace' scooters which has seen some modified into vehicles almost as large as small motorbikes or turbocharged to go at speeds of up to 70mph. The plans will be welcomed by police. Last year, the Mail revealed e-scooters were linked to more than 20,000 crimes over the previous three years, including drug trafficking, sex offences, thefts and even a 'drive-by' shooting. They will also be applauded by road safety campaigners and disability charities, who have long warned that vulnerable people such as the elderly and blind have been mown down by yobs riding them on pavements or obstructed by them being left abandoned in the streets. A Government source told the Mail: 'E-scooters can be a great way to get around but they must be properly regulated, safe for pedestrians as well as riders and we must ensure they cannot clutter up our streets.' Prominent road laws lawyer Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole, said the current law was effectively acting as an 'open invitation to commit any form of offence and avoid detection'. He added: 'The delay to bringing in proper legislation is effectively giving the green light for e-scooters to be used to commit all forms of criminal activity. They're stealth-like and there's no registration plates so the police have very little chance of apprehending anyone. They're a menace. 'E-scooters are subject to the Road Traffic Act 1988 but they don't need registration and that's the vital piece of the jigsaw that's missing. It makes current legislation impotent. Licensing them and registering them is the start so that they're treated like mopeds.' The crackdown would target privately-owned e-scooters rather than those available to rent, as these already require proof of a driving licence and age. Privately-owned e-scooters are banned on roads. But their use exploded during Covid and there are now thought to be as many as one million on the roads, meaning police effectively often turn a blind eye. However, ministers believe legalising them while introducing tough laws around registration and licensing would make it easier for forces to pursue thugs using them for crimes or riding dangerously. It is also hoped that introducing a basic test could improve safety, as young users currently jump on them without a driving licence or any knowledge of the roads. According to Government sources, ministers will consult on a minimum age of 14 for using the scooters as some children use them to get to school. Introducing mandatory 'rider training', akin to a driving licence for motorists, will also be considered as will insurance although sources stressed this is unlikely to be adopted because of the sky-high cost of premiums. By contrast, insurance for e-scooters in countries such as Germany is available for as little as £20 a year. Finally, ministers will look to force manufacturers into limiting their speed to 12.5mph. Margaret Winchcomb, of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said: 'Bringing in long-promised legislation will mean the UK, now the last country in Europe lacking regulation, will be able to deal with the irresponsible sales of illegal vehicles to children and improve safety for all road users.'
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
But all my friends have one: Why some parents say no to kids' demand for e-scooters
A man rides an E-scooter to work in front of the Old Opera in Frankfurt, Germany, early Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) TORONTO — Nainesh Kotak says it doesn't matter how many of his 11-year-old son's friends have e-scooters, he's not letting his own child have one. The personal injury lawyer based in Mississauga, Ont., says his firm has seen several cases involving e-scooter accidents in recent years and that it's simply too dangerous. 'Their parents don't see what I have seen, so I have taken that step of saying 'no' to it,' he said in an interview. 'When a child is hit when they're on an e-scooter, these inevitably are always major, major injuries that we see, whether it be knees fractured … arm fractures, rib fractures, or a lot of times facial injuries and head injuries.' Kotak says his son has repeatedly asked him for an e-scooter, trying to keep up with his peers. 'When they're above 18, they can certainly make their own choice, but as long as they're under my roof the answer would be no.' E-scooters have exploded in popularity in recent years as a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to help people get around. They don't require a licence to operate, and that, combined with their speed, small size and ease of use appeals to children. New data released Thursday from the Canadian Institute for Health Information says hospitalizations involving e-scooters for kids and teens between five and 17 years old increased by 61 per cent from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 — from 33 to 53. Kotak says his firm, which has offices in the Greater Toronto Area, Calgary and Edmonton, has seen the number of e-scooter accident inquiries double from 2023 to 2024, with an even split between injuries among children and adults. He did not offer a specific number. He notes some cases involve e-scooter riders getting hit by distracted drivers, but others are considered 'split liability,' where the e-scooter driver wasn't completely following the rules of the road. David Shellnutt, a personal injury lawyer based in Toronto, also says he's not going to let his 13-year-old daughter on an e-scooter. 'I think to move among traffic in major urban centres like (Toronto), I would need a fair amount of assurance that she's developed skills of defensive cycling, defensive driving that are necessary to move among more vehicles,' he said. Defensive cycling and defensive driving means proactively anticipating potential road hazards — particularly errors of other drivers — and taking precautions to avoid getting hurt. Though his firm specializes in cycling injuries, Shellnutt says he's noticing an increasing number of claims for e-scooter injuries. He said his firm has five active cases where the person on the scooter was hit by a car. Often the injuries his firm handles occur at intersections where an e-scooter rider is using a bike lane and is hit by a motorist making a turn, Shellnutt says. Parents should not let children under 16 operate the vehicles, he says, and many laws and manufacturers have rules in place warning against minors using them. Anyone above 16 should ride a helmet when riding, he adds. 'I would encourage parents to really look up the law, look up what's allowed in your municipality and really ask the question: is it appropriate for my young adult to be riding one of these things, and do they have the skills and defensive riding tools that are needed to swim with the sharks?' Pamela Fuselli with Parachute Canada, a charity focused on injury prevention, says parents should also consider the recommendations of doctors and legislators in their areas. Ontario prohibits children under 16 years old from operating e-scooters, and she says this makes sense since that rule is in line with regulations that keeps kids from driving cars. 'We don't put 10-year-olds behind the wheel because they need to learn how to drive ... so it's the same kind of principle,' Fuselli said. 'They are mobility devices and while they look fun … you also have to take into account what your child's abilities and experience. Do they have the attention span? Do they have strength enough to actually manipulate and control the e-scooter?' Parents who allow children on e-scooters should make sure they know how to stop the vehicle, figure out which roads are safe to use and convince them to wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads, Kotak said. 'I think it's about mitigating the potential loss or the injuries that could occur by proper understanding of how these scooters work,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025. Cassidy McMackon, The Canadian Press — with files from Nicole Ireland
BBC News
10-05-2025
- BBC News
Police appeal after man found with serious head injuries in Aberdeen
Police in Aberdeen are appealing for witnesses after a man was found with serious head injuries in the city's Mastrick 49-year-old was found badly injured on Strathmore Drive at about 03:40 on Friday morning. He was taken by ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where medical staff describe his condition as man had earlier been seen using an E-scooter which was missing when he was discovered. Det Insp Andrew Wilson, of Police Scotland, said the man left an address on Cairnwell Place at about midnight and was riding an E-scooter in the Strathmore Drive and Gadie Crescent area. "Around 30 minutes later, he was seen walking with his E-scooter from Gadie Crescent onto Strathmore Drive where he appeared to be injured," he said. "He was later traced in Strathmore Drive and taken to hospital. His E-scooter has not been found."Detectives have been carrying out door to door inquiries, checking CCTV, doorbell and dashcam footage to establish exactly how the man came about his injuries."We'd urge anyone who may have seen the man or know what happened to him to come forward. He is described as white, wearing a blue puffer jacket, blue jeans & black trainers."
