{SITE-NAME} Logo
The Police
Message Type Icon

E Scooters


Good morning, 

We are seeing a slight increase in the use of E-scooters by children in our villages. 

 

We are reminding people that the use of electric scooters and hoverboards is illegal on public roads - except those that are part of an official Government trial - following some recent isolated incidents in West Mercia.

E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles, also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.

There are two ways of using an e-scooter:

  • by privately owning one
  • by renting one through an authorised rental scheme 

     

    Owning your own e-scooter

  • It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters. This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.

    If you use a privately-owned e-scooter in public, you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance. 

    If you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter, the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car. 

     

    If you own an e-scooter, you can only use it in on private land, such as in a garden. But you must have the permission of the landowner to do so.

              Rental e-scooters

    You can rent e-scooters in some parts of the UK through e-scooter rental trials.

    Where a rental trial scheme is running, rental e-scooters can be used on public roads, some cycle lanes, and other public spaces. But you must follow the relevant road traffic laws. If you don’t, you could face prosecution.

     

     

     

     

     

     


    Reply to this message

    Message Sent By
    Ben Trowman
    (West Mercia Police, PC, Evesham Rural South)

    Neighbourhood Alert Cyber Essentials