E-scooters - know the law

We have seen an increase in people using e-scooters across the county but in particular around our towns and city centres and we believe many people are unaware of the current laws around their use.

Electronic scooters, more commonly known as e-scooters, are a form of ‘powered transporter’ which is a term used to cover a variety of novel and emerging personal transport devices powered by a motor. Other forms of powered transporters include Segways, hoverboards, go-peds (combustion engine-powered kick-scooters), powered unicycles, and u-wheels.

Given how powered transporters are motorised and designed, they fall within the legal definition of a ‘motor vehicle’, therefore laws that apply to motor vehicles also apply to powered transporters.

Illegal use:

• on a public road without complying with a number of legal requirements including insurance; conformity with technical standards and standards of use; payment of vehicle tax, licensing, and registration; driver testing and licensing; and the use of relevant safety equipment
• some of the same restrictions set out above apply to other spaces which are accessible to the public, such as car parks, public squares which are not restricted to pedestrian use, privately-owned roads, industrial estates, and university campuses
• in spaces set aside for use by pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-riders; this includes on pavements, in cycle lanes and on bridleways or restricted byways. On a pavement, there are special legal exceptions for mobility scooters and wheelchairs

Legal use:

• on private land with the land owner’s permission
• part of a government trial 

Anyone who uses a powered transporter on a public road or other prohibited space in breach of the law is committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted.

Penalties for illegal use:

• breaches of the law relating to motor vehicle use are generally criminal offences enforced by police
• the potential penalties depend on the nature and gravity of the offence, and sentences range from fines and penalty points, to disqualification from driving
• those using powered transporters dangerously or under the influence of drink or drugs can also be convicted of offences leading to imprisonment. Offences related to the standard of driving and speeding also apply

More information about the legal use of e-scooters can be found on the Government’s website.

Motorised vehicles

Vehicles that can be considered motorised are subject to the normal legal requirements that apply to cars or motorbikes when ridden on roads or pavements. These may be mistaken as toys, such as hoverboards, segways or electric scooters.

Motorised vehicles include;

• hoverboards
• electric scooters
• electric bikes
• quad bikes
• go-peds
• mini-motos
• segways.

Some people may think of these items as toys, but they are vehicles and the law of riding them applies. If such vehicles are used on a road or pavement by children or young people, they may be committing a number of offences. Parents may also face prosecution for aiding and abetting, or permitting the offences.

These vehicles also can't be legally used on a pavement either. The only place they can be used is on private land, with the landowner's permission.

The normal legal requirements are tax, insurance, vehicle registration and a driving licence. Unless the vehicle and its rider have these in place, it is not legal to use a motorised vehicle on a road. Many of the motorised vehicle may also never be considered 'road legal', as they fail to meet government road vehicle standards.