There has been much debate over recent days after police in Herefordshire shared an update warning members of the public that they could get a £300 fine and 6 penalty points if they ride an e-scooter in public areas and on pavements.
Hereford Cops have since shared the government guidance which states:
Electric scooters, or E-Scooters, are an up-and-coming mode of transport, but there’s a lot of uncertainty around when and where they can legally be used.
Are electric scooters legal in the UK? Yes, electric scooters are legal to buy and own in the UK. They can be purchased from places like Halfords from as little as £140. The more expensive ones claim top speeds of 18 mph with a range of over 50 miles. However, there are lots of restrictions surrounding where they can be used. It is illegal to use them on public roads, on pavements, in cycle lanes and in pedestrian-only areas.
The reason for this is that electric scooters are currently classed as ‘powered transporters’ by the government and fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all ‘motor vehicle’. Therefore use on public roads would only be legal if electric scooters could meet the same requirements as motor vehicles (e.g. in terms of insurance, tax, license, registration), which they can’t.
Do you need insurance for an electric scooter? You would not need insurance to ride an E-Scooter on private land, (would need the land owners permission) but you would need insurance to ride an E-Scooter on a road, but you cannot obtain it, because it does not meet the Road Traffic Act regulations.
Do you need a driver’s licence for an electric scooter? You would not need a driving licence to ride an E-Scooter on private land, but you would need a licence to ride an E-Scooter on a road.
The government advice can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/powered-transporters/information-sheet-guidance-on-powered-transporters
