Number of pedestrians hit and injured by e-scooters in UK was FOUR times higher in 2021 than year before – with 223 wounded and 63 seriously hurt
- There were 1,280 collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 460 in 2020
- A total of 223 pedestrians were injured in the collisions, 63 seriously so
- People aged 30 to 59 were most likely to be injured in e-scooter collisions
The number of pedestrians injured after being hit by e-scooters was nearly four times higher in 2021 than the previous year, new figures show.
Department for Transport statistics revealed that 223 people travelling on foot were wounded by the contraptions in Britain last year, including 63 who were seriously hurt.
The average age group of an e-scooter rider involved in a collision was 10 to 19, while the most common age group of e-scooter crash victim was 50 to 59.
In 2020 there were just 57 pedestrian casualties including only 13 serious injuries.
Hundreds of pedestrians were injured by e-scooter riders last year, in total four times more were hurt than the year before
The reported number of casualties in collisions involving e-scooters skyrocketed in the UK in 2021
The most common age of person involved in a collision with an e-scooter, not including the rider, was aged between 50 and 59
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps made his intentions to introduce new legislation concerning e-scooters in the Transport Bill clear, though the specifics are unknown
Currently there is no specific legislation for e-scooters and, while it is legal to buy and sell e-scooters in the UK, there are limitations on where they can be used
The figures have been released just weeks after the Government announced it plans to introduce new legislation to govern the use of e-scooters.
Private e-scooters are often used on public roads and pavements despite being banned.
Legalised trials of rental e-scooters have been set up in dozens of towns and cities across England to see if they can be used safely.
Trial areas like Merseyside and Nottinghamshire showed a similar amount of collisions from rental scooters as there were for privately owned ones, while Northamptonshire only recorded collisions from rental e-scooters.
The casualty statistics also show that 64 cyclists were injured in e-scooter crashes in 2021, up from 21 during the previous 12 months.
Some 1,034 e-scooter riders or passengers were injured in 2021, accounting for 76% of all casualties in crashes involving the devices.
Last year nine people were killed in e-scooter collisions, all of whom were riders, and 305 riders were seriously injured.
A breakdown of the types of injuries resulting from e-scooter crashes shows 28 people suffered a serious head injury, 32 sustained a fractured lower leg, ankle or foot, and three endured a broken neck or back.
Not all police provided full data for last year so the actual number of casualties during that period is likely to be higher.
A Government spokesman said: ‘We extend our deepest sympathies to those involved in these tragic incidents.
‘Safety is at the heart of our e-scooter trials, looking to protect riders, pedestrians and other road users.
‘We have set out clear regulations and guidance for users and rental providers on wearing helmets, speed limits and precautions to keep everyone safe.
‘While riding a privately owned e-scooter on public land is currently illegal, we are considering how best to design future regulations.
What are the laws on e-scooters?
Renting an e-scooter is the only way to legally ride the vehicle on some public roads or in other public place at the moment.
But the controversial vehicles could be approved for use across the UK following a trial period.
Riding e-scooters on the pavement however is banned, and riders must be 18 or over and have a full or provisional driving licence to rent one.
It is also illegal to use privately owned e-scooters or other powered transporters on public roads.
Relevant laws on e-scooter use include:
On public roads, anyone using a privately owned e-scooter or other powered transporter is likely to be committing at least one of a number of offences such as driving a motor vehicle with no insurance. You could be liable for a fixed penalty of £300 and six points on your driving licence
On pavements, it is generally an offence to drive a motor vehicle, and this applies at all times to e-scooters and powered transporters
E-scooters and powered transporters may be used on private land with permission from the landowner or occupier
E-scooters rented from the TfL scheme will be permitted to ride on London’s public roads and cycle infrastructure in participating boroughs.
These boroughs will designate no-go areas where e-scooters cannot be ridden and will come to a safe stop, as well as go-slow areas, where the speed of e-scooters will be reduced to 8mph
Source: TfL
‘Our Transport Bill will enable us to take the steps we need to support innovation, robustly crack down on irresponsible use and make e-scooters safer.’
The new Transport Bill was mentioned by the Department For Transport earlier this month.
Their intention is to regulate the e-scooters with its own rules separate from the rules for bikes and motorcycle.
Over a million e-scooters are reported to be on Britain’s roads, many illegally.
A coroner said at Ms Hartridge’s inquest: ‘The scooter was being unsuitably driven, too fast and with an underinflated tyre and this caused the loss of control and her death’
Machines taking part in an official trials are restricted to 15.5mph.
But a back-room industry is able to transform an e-scooter into what are effectively unlicensed motorbikes capable of over 30mph.
Academics from Imperial College London found that three-quarters of riders fell to the ground if their scooter hit a pothole between 2.5in-3.5in deep (6cm-9cm), and that the force of the fall would be enough to cause a skull fracture.
TV presenter and YouTube star Emily Hartridge was the first e-scooter rider to die on a British road in 2019.
A coroner ruled she had been riding her e-scooter too fast with an under-inflated tyre when she collided with a lorry.
In December, a Voi e-scooter caught fire in Bristol as the city hosted a rental scheme, just days after the vehicles were banned from the London Tube.
A machine caught fire at Parsons Green underground station in November, with one passenger suffering smoke inhalation.
The London Fire Brigade attended more than 50 fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes last year – more than double the amount seen in 2020.
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