PARENTS in Warwickshire are being urged to consider the potential long-term consequences of letting their teenager or child ride an escooter.
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership say that as well as it being illegal to ride a privately owned escooter in any public place, it could affect a teenager’s ability to apply for a driving licence when they reach the legal age.
This is because escooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and this opens up their riders to a raft of offences as riders need to have a driving licence and insurance to ride them.
But that’s not all. Escooter riders under 17-years-old commit the same offences as adults and will be treated the same. This means that if a young rider is prosecuted for no insurance the six points will be held on a ‘ghost’ licence by the DVLA.
When a teenager reaches the legal age to apply for their driving licence the points are added and they could be instantly disqualified from driving. The points are ‘spent’ after three years and they can then reapply for a licence. However, this could have an impact on their insurance for years to come.
If they are involved in a collision while illegally riding an escooter they must comply with the Road Traffic Act 1988 which defines an escooter as a motor vehicle. This means they must stop and exchange details if property has been damaged and report it to the police if someone has been injured. Failure to do so could result in a teenager being arrested.
And as it’s not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned escooters, it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces. This means if an escooter is involved in a collision the rider could face a large compensation and legal bill in addition to any criminal proceedings. If the rider is a juvenile then these costs could be passed on to parents or guardians to pay.
Warwickshire Police Inspector Jem Mountford said: “As well as being illegal, there are real concerns for the safety of escooter riders and other road users including people with sight loss, the young, old and disabled.
“Because they are illegal we believe the number of collisions and injuries involving escooters could be under reported in Warwickshire. Nationally, provisional data from 2022 shows there were 1,349 collisions involving escooters resulting in 1,437 casualties and 12 fatalities. This is a real concern and could be just the tip of the iceberg. These fatalities included a 12-year-old boy riding one on his way to school and a 71-year-old lady who was hit while walking on the pavement.”
Police are urging parents to consider other options such as a bike, as a legal alternative.
