More than two-thirds (68%) of UK motorists would support a law totally banning e-scooter usage, according to a new poll.

British road users have similar concerns to their French counterparts on e-scooter usage

As casualties involving e-scooters triple in just 12 months, the research by IAM RoadSmart shows British road users have similar concerns to their French counterparts.

Residents in Paris have voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning the controversial battery-powered vehicles. A referendum in the French capital last week saw 90% of residents who voted state that they were in favour of a ban on the rental scooters amid growing safety concerns, with 459 injuries and three deaths attributed to e-scooters in Paris last year.

Findings in IAM RoadSmart’s Safety Culture Report shows e-scooters are similarly unpopular over here. The poll, which surveys over 2,000 UK motorists on opinions of key road safety issues over time, saw 68% of respondents say that the growing number of e-scooters on the roads is a threat to their road safety, with three-quarters (74%) of those aged over 70 being the age group feeling most threatened by the device, compared to 59% of 17–34-year-olds.

Responses varied according to region, with residents of London and the West Midlands among those who feel most under threat by the growing number of e-scooters – raising the question of whether boroughs of the capital and England’s second city could soon take similar action to decision-makers in Paris.

Not everyone was in favour of a blanket ban though, and some instead called for smarter and stronger ways for them to be used more safely, with 86% of those surveyed stating that they are in support of tougher regulation of the devices. This includes a law restricting e-scooters to cycle lanes only, enforcing age limits on those who are allowed to use them and introducing strict design and construction standards.

Latest Department for Transport (DfT) statistics revealed that there were 1,434 casualties involving e-scooters in Britain in 2021, of which, 10 people were sadly killed. This is compared to 484 casualties involving e-scooters in 2020, meaning casualties have almost tripled in just 12 months.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart is calling on the Government to take action before more road users are seriously injured or killed by e-scooter riders.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research, commented: “We still await the Transport Bill, meaning there is still no regulation of these vehicles, which can go up to 30mph in some cases. Given the number of collisions we have seen on our roads and pavements involving e-scooters since they have been introduced, the concerns of the public are more than understandable.

“The Government must act faster to regulate e-scooters before more injuries are sustained and lives are tragically lost. In the meantime, we would encourage those who wish to use rental e-scooters to ride with caution, vigilance and due attention, keeping themselves, other motorists and pedestrians safe.”

How much of a threat to your personal safety is the growing number of e-scooters?