A police and crime commissioner for Kent has called for illegal e-scooters to be “seized and crushed,” following the end of a rental trial in Canterbury.
E-scooters can only be used on roads in England if they are part of a trial rental scheme. It is illegal to use privately-owned e-scooters or other powered transporters on public roads.
The Canterbury trial scheme, launched in 2020, finished at the end of 2022.
Kent Police chief Matthew Scott told a police and crime panel that e-scooters are “not road safe, not road legal, and should not be on our roads.”
Mr. Scott, who wants to avoid a “summer blighted by anti-social vehicles,” urged officers to “seize and crush” illegal e-scooters.
“I don’t want the perception to rise that they have effectively been decriminalised,” Mr. Scott added.
He promised to hold the force to account and continue to spread the message.
Before the end of Kent’s trial, the county council gradually reduced the number of e-scooters and the areas in which they operated. The decision was made despite the introduction of safety measures by e-scooter operator Bird.
Bird reduced e-scooter speeds from 15 mph to 12 mph and changed their rider policy to introduce an immediate ban for any misdemeanour.
Members of the public who objected to the e-scooter trial in Canterbury said that the electric vehicles were “dangerous,” “ridden on pavements,” and “created a trip hazard.”
Respondents also said that Canterbury was not a suitable place for e-scooters and that riders were not abiding by the Highway Code.
“Canterbury barely has the infrastructure for bicycles, let alone e-scooters,” one respondent suggested.
Supporters of the Canterbury pilot argued that e-scooters helped reduce traffic and private car use, while being useful for last-mile journeys.
E-scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries pose a safety hazard if not properly safeguarded, as lithium is highly combustible.
Speaking about privately-owned e-scooters last year, Mr. Scott said that fire and rescue services saw a demand to attend incidents when e-scooters catch on fire or damage people’s homes.
“Remember–privately owned e-scooters are not legal on our roads. Kent Police and other forces are being proactive in seizing them. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Don’t waste the money. Don’t buy e-scooters,” Mr. Scott added in a statement.
In 2021, Transport for London (TfL) reported fires on its network caused by defective lithium-ion batteries in privately-owned e-scooters and e-unicycles. This fuelled TfL’s decision to ban e-scooters and e-unicycles in London underground stations.
Road Safety
When launching its trial in Canterbury, Bird said that safety was a top priority and reiterated the rules that riders should hold a provisional or full driver’s licence and be over 18 years old before they can ride.In the year ending June 2022, the Department of Transport (DfT) reported 31 casualties in Kent, linked to collisions involving an e-scooter.
The DfT considers e-scooter users a “vulnerable” group because the riders are not protected the same way as car users and are harder to see on the road.
“They are, therefore, particularly susceptible to injuries,” the DfT said.
There were 243 recorded collisions involving e-scooters last year, where 62 pedestrians were seriously injured and one person died. According to new guidance by the Sentencing Council, e-scooter riders could face a maximum jail sentence of two years if found guilty of injuring or killing pedestrians by wanton or furious driving.
There are currently 30 e-scooter trials across England, which are subject to approval by local authorities.
Local governing bodies can opt to continue trials until the end of May 2024, provided that e-scooters abide by the 12.5 mph speed limit.
The government continues its work on legislation that would cover e-scooter regulation.
