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The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Gardai reveal new tool in law crackdown on e-scooters as ‘excellent device' allows for easier check of 20kmh speed rule
GARDAI are now testing e-scooter speeds using a new device. Portable dynamometers - which look like mini treadmills - allow cops to assess whether electric scooters comply with legal speed limits. 2 Gardai are now testing e-scooter speeds using a new device Credit: RTE News collect 2 Portable dynamometers allow cops to assess whether electric scooters comply with legal speed limits Credit: RTE News collect New regulations introduced last year limit the And after being trained in the use of mobile dynamometers, officers are now rolling out a new way of policing electric scooters across the country. Members of the And Inspector Padraig Sutton, of Roads Policing, Limerick, told how a clampdown on e-scooter speeding was needed. Read more in News He said: 'There's lots of e-scooters around Limerick city. Once they conform to the rules, they're a very useful tool for moving around. However, there are quite a number of people who use illegal ones. 'Unfortunately in this jurisdiction, we've had serious injury collisions and also fatalities as a result of e-scooter use.' Top cops plan on purchasing 'a lot more' e-scooter and e-bike speed testing kits, which will be distributed to garda stations across the country. Most read in The Irish Sun Insp Sutton described the machines as a game-changer. He said: 'It's been an excellent device for us, because prior to now, it's very difficult for us to estimate with any accuracy the speed of in of an e-bike or an e-scooter, other than actually using a laser speed device. Gardai and RSA measures aimed at driving crash deaths on Irish roads 'So, it's a very useful and portable machine that we're getting good use of here in the Limerick division. 'Officers can seize an e-scooter and they can bring it back to the station where we can test it, or we can take it out to different parts of the county and set it up and have a mobile checkpoint and target those who are using our roads illegally with devices that really shouldn't be on roads.' The Road Safety Authority welcomed the roll out of the new dynamometers. Research from the RSA suggests that the number of e-scooters on the roads will double in the next year. 'GROWING IN POPULARITY' Currently, it is estimated around four per cent of adults own one. David Martin, from the RSA, told how cops need the dynamometers to police the dramatic increase in e-scooter use. He said: 'It can be a very good way of travelling, particularly around cities. However, we're also seeing a lot of incidents, crashes and collisions. 'They're growing in popularity. But clearly, there's an issue in terms of safety, and it's something that we are concerned about.' RSA commissioned research indicates that one in four have had a crash in the last 12 months, and one in three have had a near miss. Martin continued: 'We welcome this initiative today and think it's a tremendous development. 'The speed limit of 20 kmh - very difficult for the gardai to have checked that in the past. So, this new development really is welcome.'
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Limerick gardaí roll out new way to police e-scooters
In Limerick city, gardaí are rolling out a new way of policing electric scooters. Portable dynamometers come in two parts, look like a mini treadmill, and measure around 1.5 metres in length. They measure the speed of e-scooters - with 20km/h the maximum allowed. At a recent checkpoint on Bishop's Quay, a rider was flagged down by members of the Garda Roads Policing Unit, and her e-scooter was rolled up onto the new machine. Within a minute, it was deemed to be in compliance, and the woman is back on the road. However, a bigger model fails the test and is seized. "It goes up to 47km/h," said Garda Philip Ellard, who is conducting the test. "It's very fast. If you had an accident on this, you'd have serious injuries. It's like being on the equivalent of a small moped. "The limit is 20 km/h, anything that exceeds that can't be used on any roads for any reason," he said. Watch: Limerick gardaí roll out new way to police e-scooters Inspector Padraig Sutton is in charge of the checkpoint. "There's lots of e-scooters around Limerick city. Once they conform to the rules, they're a very useful tool for moving around. However, there are quite a number of people who use illegal ones," he said. "Unfortunately in this jurisdiction, we've had serious injury collisions and also fatalities as a result of e-scooter use," he said. There are now four dynamometers used by the Garda Roads Policing Unit across the country and they have been in use for the last two months. "It's been an excellent device for us, because prior to now, it's very difficult for us to estimate with any accuracy the speed of in of an e-bike or an e-scooter, other than actually using a laser speed device." "So, it's a very useful and portable machine that we're getting good use of here in the Limerick division", he said. "Officers can seize an e-scooter and they can bring it back to the station where we can test it, or we can take it out to different parts of the county and set it up and have a mobile checkpoint and target those who are using our roads illegally with devices that really shouldn't be on roads," Inspector Sutton said. The number of e-scooters seized by gardaí has increased dramatically since the introduction of new regulations around their use. The number jumped from 26 to 130 for the five months of this year compared to last. The data also shows that there have been 406 fines given to riders since the new rules were introduced. The laws mean that using an e-scooter to carry goods or passengers, driving on a footpath, or when on a mobile phone all now attract garda Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) of €50. Other infringements are also included. The challenge for gardaí will be trying to keep up with the number of e-scooters on the roads. Research from the Road Safety Authority suggests that their number will double in the next year. Currently, it is estimated around 4% of adults own one. "It can be a very good way of travelling, particularly around cities. However, we're also seeing a lot of incidents, crashes and collisions," said David Martin from the RSA. "They're growing in popularity. But clearly, there's an issue in terms of safety, and it's something that we are concerned about," he said, adding that the research the RSA commissioned indicates that one in four have had a crash in the last 12 months, and one in three have had a near miss. The RSA, he said, welcomes the roll out of the new dynamometers. "We welcome this initiative today and think it's a tremendous development. "The speed limit of 20 km/h - very difficult for the gardaí to have checked that in the past. So, this new development really is welcome," he said.
