More must be done to control the number of e-scooters being used illegally on public roads, including increased regulation and education alongside penalties.

Since regulations enabling trials of rental e-scooters took effect in July 2021, more than 50 areas have been granted approval to operate rental schemes

While e-scooters are now a common sight on UK roads, they are actually limited to private land unless in a government trial area.

And many Brits are unaware of such schemes or confused about where they’re being run, IAM RoadSmart has warned.

Regulations enabling trials of rental e-scooters took effect in July 2021, under plans to cut congestion and emissions. Since then, more than 50 areas have been granted government approval to operate rental schemes – including major cities such as Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool, and selected London boroughs.

But according to IAM RoadSmart, lack of public awareness on e-scooters has led to them being let loose in towns and cities across the length and breadth of the country without proper regulation.

A web survey of more than 1,400 of the road safety charity’s members has revealed around a third of those surveyed thought there was a trial in their area when there wasn’t; meaning e-scooter users could be unknowingly riding them illegally.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, commented: “Clearly more needs to be done to educate those who wish to use e-scooters, which is why we wish to remind e-scooter riders that they are only permitted to be used on public roads where government-backed trials are taking place. If our members, who are road safety-conscious and observant, are confused, then it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the country!”

Greig warned that those who continue to ride e-scooters on public roads could be slapped with hefty fines: “Education should be the preferred method to take e-scooters off the UK’s streets in areas they are not permitted. But in cases where the message is not getting through, we support deterrents and penalties such as fines, seizing of vehicles and penalty points on driving licences.”

In fact, e-scooter culprits could face fines of up to £300 and six points on their licence if caught by the police. It only takes six points accumulated within the first two years of passing a test for a new driver’s licence to be revoked.

He concluded: “As the use of e-scooters surge, so do the safety challenges. For those who reside in an area where an e-scooter trial is being conducted, we urge riders to take as many safety measures as possible such as wearing a helmet. For the Government, we once again urge them to complete the pilot studies that have been running for over a year and clarify the law on e-scooters once and for all.”