TWO men have been charged with dangerous driving over a road traffic collision in Tamworth last week that left the driver of an electronic scooter with a head injury.
The incident happened just after 5pm on 12 April on Glascote Road at the junction with Kettlebrook Road and involved a collision between a van and an electronic scooter.
Both men were driving electronic scooters, also known as e-scooters, at the time of the offence.
Adrian Day, aged 43, of Tyburn Road, Birmingham, has been charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and driving whilst disqualified.
The other man – Keaton Day, aged 22, of Amington - was charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.
PC Sam Small, of Staffordshire Police’s East Staffordshire Response Hub, said:
“There is clearly still some misinformation around these e-scooters and their use.
“To make it clear, it is illegal to drive e-scooters on British roads and in public areas – except for three trial areas in the country. The only one currently in Staffordshire is in Stafford or in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The maximum speed for an e-scooter in these trial areas is 15.5mph, but this can be lowered in any trial area.
“We would urge people to always be aware of what they are buying and check the current e-scooter laws on the gov.uk website to see where they can and can’t use them.”
The Law
“Powered transporters” is a term used to cover a variety of novel and emerging personal transport devices which are powered by a motor, including e-scooters.
This information sheet aims to provide guidance to users and purchasers of these vehicles, as well as to help retailers, manufacturers, hirers, and importers to understand the law about their use.
Given how powered transporters are motorised and designed, they fall within the legal definition of a “motor vehicle”. Therefore the laws that apply to motor vehicles apply to powered transporters.
It is illegal to use a powered transporter:
- on a public road without complying with a number of legal requirements, which potential users will find very difficult
- in spaces that are set aside for use by pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-riders; this includes on the pavement and in cycle lanes
Any person who uses a powered transporter on a public road or other prohibited space in breach of the law is committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted.
It is legal to use a powered transporter:
- on private land with the permission of the land owner
For motor vehicles to use public roads lawfully, they must meet a number of different requirements. These include insurance; conformity with technical standards and standards of use; payment of vehicle tax, licensing, and registration; driver testing and licensing; and the use of relevant safety equipment.
If the user of a powered transporter could meet these requirements, it might in principle be lawful for them to use public roads. However, it is likely that they will find it very difficult to comply with all of these requirements, meaning that it would be a criminal offence to use them on the road.
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