Are e-scooters legal? The truth about how safe they are

The rise of e-scooters has started an intense debate. Are they merely a fun way to get around? Or can they cause danger to road users? Is it even legal to use an e-scooter?

A recent news report revealed that the government is considering the potential legalisation of their public use across the UK, but while e-scooters become increasingly popular their place in society remains complicated.

Are e-scooters legal?

The first thing to say is that e-scooters are not illegal. The law classifies e-scooters as motor vehicles, similar to cars, rather than treating them as exceptions like mobility scooters or having a separate regulatory framework like e-bikes.

The law’s failure to keep up means that riding an e-scooter on the pavement is considered the same offence as driving a car on the pavement – both are prohibited. No matter your opinion of them, people are allowed to own them. It is what they do with them that matters.

Why can’t I ride an e-scooter on the road? 

As with a car, to legally raise an e-scooter on the road you would need:

• Insurance
• Road tax
• Valid driving license
• Compliance with vehicle construction regulations
• MOT

The Transport Secretary recently indicated that the government will soon implement laws to make e-scooters legal on pavements.

Where can I ride an e-scooter?

The law makes it clear that you can only ride e-scooters legally on private land. You must either own the land yourself or have the landowner’s permission before riding on the land.

It is not legal to ride them on public roads, pavements or cycle lanes.

But things are moving forward. In 2020 the Government passed a law allowing e-scooters to be trialled in various UK towns and cities. This also set out a definition of an e-scooter including them having a 15.5mph speed limit.

They are legal - so what is the issue with them?
The main issue with e-scooters is that they don’t fit neatly into existing transportation categories. They’re faster and heavier than traditional scooters but slower and more vulnerable than cars. This creates a catch-22 situation: they are too dangerous for pavements but are exposing for riders on the road.

But ultimately the issue is that a child’s toy has been turned into a serious mode of transport.

You could say that this is the same as bikes - but there is a big difference. E-bikes don’t cause as much of an issue as they have speed limits and traditional pedal bikes have been used on roads for longer than cars. They have essentially been designed for the road and adapted for children to learn from a younger age.

Scooters were never designed for use on the road. They were designed for children to play with, and drivers don’t think twice when they are used on the pavement.

E-scooters are more powerful than non-motorised scooters and are increasingly used by adults for transport. However many road users are not accustomed to this leading to the stereotype that e-scooter riders are reckless and up to no good.

Another issue is that e-scooters are much bigger, heavier and faster than regular scooters, making them more likely to cause injury to pedestrians. According to the Department for Transport figures from 2022, there were 1,480 reported injuries involving e-scooters, 232 of which affected pedestrians. Ideally they should be ridden on the road however, this places riders in a vulnerable position, increasing the risk of road traffic accidents.

Since cars are required to have compulsory insurance, would e-scooter riders also need insurance to protect against potential injuries if e-scooters were legalised for road use?

Is e-scooter insurance the answer?

Having appropriate insurance is the sensible solution to protect all road users, and insurance is currently part of different trial programmes. However, in the long term could the costs of purchasing insurance for riders and regulating it become a barrier?

This dilemma has been seen with bicycles where the desire for widespread use often conflicts with regulations. Serious injuries from e-scooter accidents are rare but implementing a speed limit of 15.5 mph will help, along with ongoing education and awareness for both riders and other road users.

Ultimately there is no reason why e-scooters cannot share the road equally with cars and bicycles.