Hartlepool Borough Council has joined forces with Cleveland Police to raise awareness of the laws governing the use of electric scooters.
With Christmas just around the corner, e-scooters, as they are known, are expected to be popular gifts.
But both the Council and the Police, both members of the Cleveland Road Safety Partnership, are urging parents to think twice before purchasing one for their children.
They stress that e-scooters are not toys and can pose significant dangers to both riders and pedestrians.
Whilst they can be bought legally, their use is strictly limited,
- They can only be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission.
- It is illegal to ride them on public roads, cycle lanes or pavements.
- E-scooters are banned in all public spaces unless rented as part of a government-approved trial – and no such trials are currently operating in the Cleveland force area.
Councillor Karen Oliver, Chair of the Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, said: “As Christmas approaches, I want to urge parents to think carefully before buying e-scooters as gifts.
“While they may seem like a fun and modern way to get around, it’s important to remember that privately-owned e-scooters cannot legally be ridden on public roads, pavements of cycle paths. We’re seeing more reports of accidents and injuries involving young people, and many of these could be avoided. Please don’t put your child at risk or spend money on something they can’t legally or safely use.”
Cleveland Police Matrix Superintendent Paul Richardson said: “E-scooters are often seen as toys rather than vehicles and some people don’t know that by law they are prohibited from being used on public land and cycle lanes due to the dangers they pose, both to the riders and other members of the public.
“Locally and nationally, there has been an increasing number of incidents relating to e-scooters, with a number of people fatally and seriously injured as a result.”
Due to misunderstanding over their use, the force recently introduced an initiative that aims to educate individuals, including children and their parents, on the legalities and dangers around e-scooters, as an alternative to criminalising them.
Supt Richardson added: “If someone is caught using an e-scooter officers may initially look to offer alternative education options rather than enforcement. However, where an individual has offences of a similar nature or there are aggravating factors enforcement action will be taken and the e-scooter destroyed. This may result in a heavy fine, penalty points and disqualification – even if the individual concerned doesn’t currently hold a driving licence.”