AMBULANCE call-outs in England to deal with e-scooter incidents have escalated to 480 in the first eight months of 2021 and exceed 840 since January 2020. The true figure will be higher since only a third of ambulance trusts provided data. Sadly three people have died.
Most of these incidents involved privately owned e-scooters which are illegal to use on UK roads and pavements. A trial involving hired e-scooters is ongoing in England to see if they should be allowed on the roads. With injuries far exceeding 840, many of them serious, the decision must be “no”.
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In Scotland e-scooters are illegal but can be used on private land with the permission of the owner. Police Scotland were unable, or unwilling, to say how many complaints about e-scooters had been received from the public. The UK and Scottish parliaments should declare that these lethal machines will never be allowed on UK or Scottish roads and especially on pavements.
Clark Cross
Linlithgow
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