Watermans speaks to The Times on outdated e-scooter laws
It’s a common sight across urban areas in Scotland; electric scooters weaving in and out of traffic on busy roads and joining pedestrians on pavements. These electric motor vehicles are growing in popularity, despite the fact that using them in public places is illegal in Scotland.
The responsible ownership of electric scooters is stifled by a lack of clear information on the legalities of where and how they can be used in public areas in this country. Police Scotland’s advice on the matter is confusing, with the force noting a requirement for insurance even though the vehicles cannot be used on public roads.
Are e-scooters legal in Scotland?
E-scooters are two-wheeled electric motor vehicles that can reach speeds of up to 15 miles an hour. According to Police Scotland, electric scooters are classed as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEV), and therefore they must be treated the same way as other motor vehicles. This means that they require insurance and a valid driving license. However, it is in fact illegal to use them on public roads, pavements, and walkways. Therefore, is the advice given by Police Scotland more confusing than it is helpful?
Our head of dispute resolution, John Dillon, spoke with The Times this week as part of their investigation into e-scooter use in Scotland, and highlighted the need for more clarity from a legal perspective.
On the matter, John said
“In truth, the use of e-scooters is an area of law that could do with much better clarity. Especially as confusion such as this can arise and clearly has here.
“At present it is illegal to use them on public land and roads. As a result, it is not possible to purchase policies of insurance covering their use.
“Clarity of advice is therefore certainly required. It needs to be provided so that those who are considering purchasing or have already purchased an e-scooter, know the exact parameters governing their use”.
E-scooter road accidents in Scotland
There are safety concerns regarding the use of e-scooters in towns and cities across Scotland. Police Scotland appealed for information regarding a collision involving a car and an e-scooter as recently as March this year, where the 16-year-old rider of the scooter was rushed to hospital in Edinburgh in critical condition. Prior to this, a single-vehicle accident in Glasgow in February resulted in the two teenage riders of the e-scooter being rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
Speaking with The Times, John Dillon noted how an inability to get insurance for privately-owned electric scooters could mean that innocent motorists end up footing the bill in claims involving uninsured riders.
“While ultimately these claims can be made against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) for payment, these payments are from a purse funded by premium-paying motorists. It is therefore something that innocent motorists all end up contributing to for putting right.
“Given the high risk of accidents occurring with e-scooters in public places and on roads, it inevitably increases the chances of serious or life-changing injuries being suffered by pedestrians, children and other road users”.
Will electric scooters be legalised in Scotland?
Electric scooters are widely used in cities across Europe, with a focus on sustainable travel and more interesting ways to explore as a tourist highlighted as some of the reasons for their growth in popularity. It is perhaps inevitable that these vehicles may be legalised in Scotland at some point in the future, especially with the Scottish Government’s commitment to minimising the environmental impacts of travel across our towns and cities. However, for this to happen, it is abundantly clear that a system needs to be put in place to ensure safe, legal travel using e-scooters.