They are a cheap and green solution for modern mobility, but many have concerns over safety and rules for riding on the public highway have not yet been agreed.
Across Scotland we can see many people already using them as a means of transport or for "fun", even though e-scooters are not toys for kids and are meant for adults.
E-scooters have been widely discussed in recent times; their safety, the rules which shall be applied to them and their users. Most users across the country have been warned that they face prosecution and a fine if found using them on public roads but they still continue to do so.
However, the law will indeed need to catch up soon with these new micromobility transporter as more and more people are not only buying them and using them on their private roads, but actively using them in public which could lead to serious consequences.
According to recently released GOV UK Data for 2021, in Scotland there have been 11 road crashes involving e-scooters, making the 1% of total crashes involving e-scooters in Great Britain. Whereas, data coming from other parts of Great Britain is often much higher and sometimes much lower - however - then highest number has been recorded in London by the Metropolitan Police with 510 crashes involving e-scooters.
Moreover, as the Highway Code has recently changed in its hierarchy, road users will be affected if they do not want or understand to adapt to the new set of rules. Hence, we could for sure see a higher level of road accidents throughout this year, including e-scooters and other smart mobility such as the aforementioned.
On top of that, more and more people are buying e-scooters as it is totally legal to buy and own one and using one on private land with the landowner's permission. Additionally, there have been many councils which have put in place rental-schemes or pushed both UK Government and Scottish Government to give e-scooters and other smart mobility vehicle the possibility to be lawfully used on all roads and pavements.
Though, the decision hasn't come yet, but it won't take more than a year as many within the institutions say - but - a year is a long time, especially when technology moves faster and faaster nowadays, how can institutions delay this process for an entire year?
During this year, more and more will buy and use one despite the law prohibits them and more and more will make an impact in the every-day life of people, the law needs to be faster than this, otherwise we are not only losing time but also money-wise, as the industry has a a huge impact on quality employment, from engineers to customer service agents.
One thing’s for sure, e-scooters are here to stay and won't simply disappear.