In short, they are classed as a motor vehicle and all the same offences are applicable – Drive Whilst Disqualified / Dive otherwise than accordance with licence, No insurance, Excess Alcohol etc.
Electric scooters are growing in popularity but there is a lot of confusion around where they can be used. There are also a number of UK government trials under way to pilot the use of rental e-scooters in some towns and cities. We wanted to set out the info you need to know about e-scooters.
Can I ride my e-scooter on the road?
A privately owned e-scooter can only legally be used on private land and with the permission of the land owner. In legislation, an e-scooter is classed as a powered transporter and are treated as a motor vehicle and so fall under the Road Traffic Act.
This means that they are subject to all the same legal requirements as motor vehicles; MOT, tax, licensing, insurance and specific construction regulations. As e-scooters can’t currently meet these requirements, riding a privately-owned e-scooter on a public road, pavement or other public area is a road traffic offence.
What happens if I ride my e-scooter in a public place?
Anyone who uses a powered transporter on a public road, pavement or other prohibited space is committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted. Some of the potential offences committed can include driving without a valid licence and driving without insurance.
The penalty for driving without insurance is a fine of £300 and up to 6 points on your driving licence if you have one. Your e-scooter may also be seized under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act for being used without insurance. If you are using an e-scooter in public in an anti-social manner, you can also risk the e-scooter being seized under section 59 of the Police Reform Act.
Do I need to wear a helmet when using an e-scooter?
We strongly recommend wearing a helmet when using an e-scooter as they can travel at speeds of up to 15.5mph and a helmet is a simple way of protecting yourself from any injury. However, there is no legal requirement for a helmet to be worn.
Where are the e-scooter trial areas?
More info about this scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/…/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users
If you are being prosecuted as a result of e-scooter use get in touch now.