Just one week ago a horrifying incident was captured by a dashcam in Hertfordshire, as an e-scooter rider went straight into a 4x4 after riding across a junction without looking. The man riding the e-scooter narrowly avoided serious injury when he rammed into the car.
The dashcam footage of the smash was recorded at 6.52pm on 6th July, as the rider appears to give a glance to his right and then looks forward to the oncoming traffic as he scoots through the junction.
No one was hurt in the incident at the junction of Longspring and Leavesden Road in Watford, Hertfordshire.
However, 3 people have died in e-scooter related crashes between January 2020 and June 2021, according to HM government’s website. Official figures show a 278% increase in the number of e-scooter collisions between 2020 and 2021.
EV Law Scotland reminds all readers that the use of e-scooters is limited to the trial schemes in cities in England such as Nottingham, Liverpool and Bristol. It is illegal to use private e-scooters on the road and in public spaces.
However, this is set to change as the Department of Transport intends to legalise these e-devices with a new bill which is scheduled to be in place by the end of this year, or beginning of 2023. Each of these e-vehicles will be capped at a 15miles/hour (25km/h approx) speed limit and will be fitted with automatic lights (some e-scooters in Europe have also indicator lights) and front and rear brakes.
Even though e-scooters and similar vehicles are not yet legal, if you are involved in an accident with one of these e-vehicles, you are still entitled to claim compensation for injuries as you are a road user.
Get in touch with EV Law Scotland to learn more.