But their popularity continues to grow, with joint e-scooter programs being hailed as a hit across the country. This follows an increase in so-called “electric scooters” on Northern Ireland`s roads in recent months, even though they are illegal if not used on private property. Inspector Rosie Leech of the PSNI`s Traffic Police Unit warned that the misuse of e-scooters would inevitably result in penalties. Those who illegally use electric scooters on public roads or in public places face warnings, fines, seizures and possible conviction if arrested by the police. Halfords, which has 13 branches in Northern Ireland, makes it clear on its website that it is illegal to use an electric scooter on a public road, sidewalk, cycle path or bridal path. Southern Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that, unlike Northern Ireland, taxes, insurance and driving licences are not necessary for the use of e-scooters, which “have become an increasingly popular form of personal mobility in a short period of time”. He added: “These devices are currently not legal under Irish road traffic law. I am implementing the program`s commitment that the government will regulate their use so that they can be used safely. “Electric scooters are virtually silent and therefore more likely to be involved in an accident and, despite the clue, drivers often don`t wear helmets or protective equipment. The scooters themselves can reach relatively high speeds of up to 26 mph and have limited braking capability. Since the rider has limited protection on his e-scooter, injuries sustained in an accident can be serious.
Electric scooters or electric scooters are an emerging mode of transportation, but there is a lot of uncertainty as to when and where they can be used legally. With government-backed rental attempts taking place across the country, we thought it would be a good time to recap the rules as they currently are. He added: “If we want to avoid a repeat of the number of e-scooter accidents in the UK in Northern Ireland, this ban must be enforced.” When the Belfast Telegraph raised readers` concerns about the proliferation of e-scooters on Northern Ireland`s roads with police in May, a senior PSNI official warned that abuses would lead to sanctions. Private electric scooters should now be legalised for use on public roads across the UK, as part of the upcoming transport law unveiled in the Queen`s speech on 10 May. This means that over the coming year, the UK government will be working on the details of the regulations that will enable legislation on electric scooters. “We are looking at how we can more easily identify notifications issued to e-scooters in the future,” they added. Currently, electric scooters can only be used on private land with the permission of the landowner. It is practically illegal to use them on public roads, sidewalks, bicycle paths and pedestrian areas. Yes. If you wish to rent an electric scooter through any of the above systems, you must have a valid full or provisional driver`s license that includes category “Q” eligibility.
This category can be found on licences for categories AM, A or B. The Department for Transport recently announced that it would publish regulations legalising e-scooters in England. The rules will take into account all recommendations from ongoing pilot projects in England, which are expected to be completed in November 2022. “That said, I think it would send a strong message to e-scooter joyriders — because that`s what they are — if charges were brought against people caught breaking the law.” It is not illegal to buy electric scooters and they are available online and at local outlets and chains such as Halfords at a price between £300 and £700. Illegal: A man drives his e-scooter, which is not allowed in NI, through an urban area. Credit: Philippe Huguen Regarding scooters in particular, they said they are “neither defined by law nor approved for use on the road; Therefore, they are considered motor vehicles if it is established that they are travelling on a road or other public space. Since the summer of 2020, trials of electric scooter rentals have been underway in a number of parts of the UK. Local councils have worked with rental providers to test the viability of electric scooters as a safe and efficient means of transport. “We asked the police how many fines they have imposed so far in connection with the use of electric scooters in NI. They told us that since they are considered motor vehicles in police systems, “they don`t have law enforcement numbers that are easy to extract.
Private electric scooters are expected to be legalised in England, but the Northern Ireland Department of Infrastructure (DfI) has said it currently has no plans to do the same. Instead, officials will “monitor developments” before making recommendations to the Minister of Infrastructure. Lord Rogan calls for action as vehicles are illegal in NI unless they are used on private property Lord Rogan has referred to some e-scooter users as “Joyriders”. Source: Chris McAndrew/UK People`s Parliament: Electric scooters are illegal in Northern Ireland if not used on private property A spokesman for the Department of Infrastructure told the news site that NI`s Infrastructure Secretary would be responsible for any decision on the use of electric scooters. “Anyone who uses an electric scooter elsewhere than on private property with the permission of the landowner should expect to receive a formal warning as a minimum measure and have the opportunity to bring their scooter home with advice for later use,” a police spokesman added. Yes, electric scooters are legal in the UK. However, there are many limitations to where they can be used. Earlier, the PSNI told the Belfast Telegraph that enforcement measures against e-scooters had been “strengthened”, although there is little evidence that this took place after the number of complaints from motorists and pedestrians to the newspaper.
If the accident was caused by the driver of the electric scooter, whether he collided with another vehicle or a pedestrian, things are a little more complicated. Although the electric scooter driver is responsible, it is very unlikely that he has insurance or that it is covered by home insurance given the current legality of electric scooters in Northern Ireland. If they don`t have the financial means to pay legal fees and compensation, pursuing a claim can do nothing more than bankrupt the electric scooter driver if a traditional letter of claim is issued to them. On the other hand, a person injured by an electric scooter driver could claim it from the Bureau of Automobile Insurers. Their online statement reads: “Our petition calls on the government to legalise the use of all electric scooters on public roads and UK laws to keep pace with the rest of the world. Earlier this month, the government announced plans for a new class of low-emission, low-speed vehicles that would pave the way for electric scooters for private use on public roads. Inspector Leech explained that an electric scooter is only allowed on the roads here if it is properly adapted as a legitimate motor vehicle. Over the past year, trials have taken place across the UK as the government plans to align legislation with the majority of other European countries that allow e-scooters on their roads.
The Department for Infrastructure (DFI) oversees the regulation of e-scooters at NI and says its officials are monitoring developments in the UK, and in the meantime, the PSNI is responsible for enforcing the law applicable to NI, making them “illegal”. Inspector Leech added that while there is no “trend towards e-scooters linked to criminal behaviour” in Northern Ireland, the PSNI is “aware of the potential” and therefore there is “a focus on law enforcement”. The Ministry of Infrastructure, which oversees the regulation of e-scooters in NI, says it`s up to psNI to enforce the rules. Despite restrictions on riding electric scooters on the roads of Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland, there is an undeniable increase in their prevalence. This raises the question of who is responsible if an electric scooter is involved in a traffic accident with another vehicle or pedestrian. If another vehicle collides with an electric scooter or causes an accident, the offending road user is liable. The insurer of the guilty driver would likely increase the legality of the electric scooter, as one insurer did in a recent case. Ultimately, in the absence of legislation, the courts would have to rule on a case-by-case basis.
In the meantime, the driver of the e-scooter can also be prosecuted. In the meantime, however, the PSNI`s job is to enforce the existing law that makes it “illegal.” This means that it is illegal to use them on sidewalks, in cycle paths and in pedestrian areas, and that it would only be legal to use them on public roads if they could meet the same requirements as motor vehicles (e.g. in terms of insurance, taxes, licenses, registration and vehicle construction), which is practically impossible in practice. In response to a Belfast Telegraph access to information request on fines, the PSNI said it “does not contain any information” or “a vehicle classification that would identify electric scooters”. From May 2021, trials of electric scooter rentals are underway in the following areas: And now, Lord Rogan, a UUP peer – who referred to e-scooter users as “Joyriders” – told this newspaper that it was time for police to send “a strong message” to offenders. “Since the vast majority of e-scooters and drivers will not be able to meet these legal requirements, they are therefore limited to `off-road` use. Despite the high price, electric scooters were also a popular Christmas gift. The UK government`s plans to update e-scooter legislation will not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, according to a report.