Latest news with #IAMRoadsmart
Telegraph
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
E-scooter riders may be forced to pass test and buy insurance
E-scooter riders could be forced to fit licence plates, pass a test and buy insurance under a proposed Government crackdown. A minimum age of 14 could also be set together with legal restrictions on the power of the machines, The Telegraph understands. It comes after a 2,000 per cent increase in teenagers caught driving without insurance last year was blamed on e-scooter misuse, according to IAM Roadsmart, the motoring charity. Other measures being drawn up by ministers include forcing manufacturers to limit their machines' top speed. The plans could trigger a row with Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. Last October, Transport for London, which the Mayor chairs, said it was considering letting 16-year-olds ride the machines in public, lowering the age from the current limit of 18. A Government source said: 'We will commit to holding a consultation on this with legislation to follow.' Formal consultations are an important step taken by government departments before new laws are proposed to Parliament. Driver-style licensing for e-scooters is not understood to be part of the Government's plans, with the source saying that a German-style system of passing an online test is one model being looked at by ministers. 'We're consulting on whether to do that,' the source said. 'There is a spectrum of options that are lighter or lower-burden than full driver licensing.' Options being looked at include passing an online test, although such moves may fall short of what motoring campaigners have called for. Nicholas Lyes, policy director at IAM Roadsmart, told The Telegraph in February: 'The Government needs to urgently bring forward legislation on private e-scooters, which must include minimum type approval device standards, speed limiters and proposals for riders to have a minimum level of competency.' E-scooters are regular foot-operated scooters that have been fitted with an electric motor to make them go faster with less effort by the rider. Legally, such modified scooters cannot be used on public roads unless they are hired from a government-approved company – but about 750,000 are thought to have been sold in Britain to date, according to IAM Roadsmart earlier this year. A number of trial schemes around the country allow members of the public to rent e-scooters from Government-licensed businesses such as Lime. Typically their top speed is limited to 15.5mph, although the limit is 12.5mph in London. Riders must hold at least a provisional driving licence to use one on public roads, the Government says. Mr Lyes of IAM Roadsmart said: 'E-scooters have the potential to change the way we do short trips, but for years the UK has been plagued by confusing laws, questionable device quality, poor riding standards and now heavily modified machines capable of dangerous speeds. 'We need to urgently introduce legislation that provides a basic competency test for all e-scooter users while also bringing forward a type approval that ensures devices are built to high safety standards.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
E-scooters blamed for 2,000pc rise in teenagers caught driving or riding without insurance
E-scooters are the reason police have seen a 2,000 per cent rise in the number of children caught riding or driving without insurance, a charity has claimed. Some 375 teenagers aged 13 to 16 have been caught driving or riding without insurance over the past four years, up from just 17 in 2021. IAM Roadsmart, which used freedom of information laws to obtain the data, said the surge was likely to be driven by those riding e-scooters. E-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads unless they are hired from a government-approved company but hundreds of thousands have nonetheless been sold in Britain to date. Nick Lyes, the charity's director of policy and standards, said: 'The number of children caught driving or riding without insurance is shocking and is likely to be down to those riding e-scooters. 'Although it's illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter on public roads, they are widely available for sale. It's estimated that more than 750,000 private e-scooters have been bought.' Mr Lyes added that some form of licensing ought to be introduced for e-scooter riders, similar to compulsory basic training (CBT) for moped drivers. 'The Government needs to urgently bring forward legislation on private e-scooters, which must include minimum type approval device standards, speed limiters and proposals for riders to have a minimum level of competency,' he said. Riders of e-scooters who are caught using them on public highways are issued a so-called IN10 endorsement for their driving licences, which means police caught them on the road without insurance. The charity collected data on the number of N10 endorsement notices issued from the Driving and Vehicle Licencing Agency. Driving a vehicle without insurance is a criminal offence carrying a penalty of up to £300 and six penalty points on your driving licence. Gaining 12 points generally results in a ban from driving. Sales of e-scooters are technically legal because they can be ridden on private land. Public trials of rentable e-scooters are taking place at 19 locations around the country, with the machines restricted to a top speed of 15.5mph – the same as e-bikes. Insurance is provided by the company renting them out. Riders must hold at least a provisional driving licence to use one on public roads, the Government says. There is also concern about e-scooter riders using their machines while under the influence. 'You should not ride an e-scooter while drunk or otherwise intoxicated – you may be prosecuted under drink or drug driving laws as careless and dangerous driving offences also apply to users of e-scooters,' the webpage about e-scooter trials says. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
