To receive a verbal update from Inspector Jamie Thomas.
Minutes:
Acting Inspector Jamie Thomas presented the update highlighting the following:
· The term “powered transporters” cover a variety of novel personal transport devices which are mechanically propelled (propelled by a motor) as well as, or instead of, being manually propelled.
· It includes E-scooters, Segways, hoverboards go-peds, powered unicycles and u-wheels.
· The definition of “motor vehicle” as set out in the Road Traffic Act 1988 is “any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads”. There is case law confirming that powered transporters fall within this definition.
· As a mechanically propelled vehicle users must comply with various Road Traffic Legislation.
· Information was provided on crimes involving E-scooters. Between July 1st 2020 and April 30th 2021, there were 574 offences such as robberies or assaults carried out by people who were riding e-scooters at the time.
· It is currently illegal to use privately owned E-scooters on public roads, pavements or cycle lanes and anyone caught breaking the law can expect a £300 fine or six points on their driving licence, immaterial of age.
· However, the Government is considering whether the law should be changed. As part of this consideration, the Department for Transport introduced legislation in July 2020 to enable rental E-scooter trials to take place on public roads and cycle lanes across the UK. The trial period has now been extended to November 2022 and the Government is therefore awaiting the outcome of these trials before making a decision on whether to change the law.
· E-scooter crashes shot up almost 2,800% in London in the first half of 2021 compared to the entirety of 2018, new figures show. There were 258 collisions in the capital in the first six months of last year, according to Met Police data. Across of all of 2018 there were just nine.
· Speeds on E-scooters are capped at 15.5mph, however they can be modified to go as fast as 70mph.
The following comments/concerns were raised:
1. It was felt that it was a very strange anomaly that E-scooters could be legally sold by businesses yet illegal for users to ride them on public roads, pavements and cycle lanes. It was agreed that this put the Police in an extremely unacceptable position when trying to deal with this issue.
2. Superintendent Chris Jones said that this remains a somewhat ‘tricky’ area, as the Police do not want start having to criminalise certain users (e.g. a ten year old child or a parent travelling to and from the school drop off/pick up) therefore he felt there needed to be an education piece around this prior to any enforcement phase.
3. Members agreed that there is an issue here for encouraging active travel. However, it was felt that if the use of E-scooters on public roads/pavements etc was to become legal, then the speed of them should be capped at approximately 10mph and their size also restricted.
4. In response to concerns raised regarding thefts using E-scooters (e.g. riding past and grabbing a mobile phone) members were advised that the numbers for this type of crime involving E-scooters were relatively low as mopeds/bicycles are usually the vehicles of choice. However, this was an area which would continue to be closely monitored.
5. In conclusion the Chair said that some sort of Government framework/clear guidance was needed for the Police to be able to successfully manage this issue as the current situation was unacceptable for them.