Latest news with #escooter
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
E-scooter riders may be forced to pass test and buy insurance
E-scooter riders could be forced to fit licence plates, pass a test and buy insurance under a proposed Government crackdown. A minimum age of 14 could also be set together with legal restrictions on the power of the machines, The Telegraph understands. It comes after a 2,000 per cent increase in teenagers caught driving without insurance last year was blamed on e-scooter misuse, according to IAM Roadsmart, the motoring charity. Other measures being drawn up by ministers include forcing manufacturers to limit their machines' top speed. The plans could trigger a row with Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. Last October, Transport for London, which the Mayor chairs, said it was considering letting 16-year-olds ride the machines in public, lowering the age from the current limit of 18. A Government source said: 'We will commit to holding a consultation on this with legislation to follow.' Formal consultations are an important step taken by government departments before new laws are proposed to Parliament. Driver-style licensing for e-scooters is not understood to be part of the Government's plans, with the source saying that a German-style system of passing an online test is one model being looked at by ministers. 'We're consulting on whether to do that,' the source said. 'There is a spectrum of options that are lighter or lower-burden than full driver licensing.' Options being looked at include passing an online test, although such moves may fall short of what motoring campaigners have called for. Nicholas Lyes, policy director at IAM Roadsmart, told The Telegraph in February: 'The Government needs to urgently bring forward legislation on private e-scooters, which must include minimum type approval device standards, speed limiters and proposals for riders to have a minimum level of competency.' E-scooters are regular foot-operated scooters that have been fitted with an electric motor to make them go faster with less effort by the rider. Legally, such modified scooters cannot be used on public roads unless they are hired from a government-approved company – but about 750,000 are thought to have been sold in Britain to date, according to IAM Roadsmart earlier this year. A number of trial schemes around the country allow members of the public to rent e-scooters from Government-licensed businesses such as Lime. Typically their top speed is limited to 15.5mph, although the limit is 12.5mph in London. Riders must hold at least a provisional driving licence to use one on public roads, the Government says. Mr Lyes of IAM Roadsmart said: 'E-scooters have the potential to change the way we do short trips, but for years the UK has been plagued by confusing laws, questionable device quality, poor riding standards and now heavily modified machines capable of dangerous speeds. 'We need to urgently introduce legislation that provides a basic competency test for all e-scooter users while also bringing forward a type approval that ensures devices are built to high safety standards.
BBC News
20-07-2025
- BBC News
Man seriously hurt in Wareham e-scooter and e-bike crash
A man in his 70s has been taken to hospital with life-changing injuries after an e-bike and an e-scooter collision happened at about 11:00 BST on Friday on Sandford Road in Wareham, rider of the e-scooter, a woman in her 20s, was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The man was the rider of the e-bike. Dorset Police said emergency services attended the scene, with road closures put in place between the Sibley Pottery Roundabout and Wareham Roundabout. Sgt David Cotterill, of the roads policing team, appealed for any witnesses, or anyone who may have dashcam footage, to come forward."I'd like to thank members of the public for their patience and understanding while road closures were put in place," he added. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
World's fastest electric scooter nicknamed ‘The Turbo' set to hit the streets - what could possibly go wrong?
The world's fastest e–scooter has been unveiled – and it can reach dizzying speeds of up to 100mph. The vehicle, dubbed The Turbo, is the brainchild of UK company, Bo. Oscar Morgan, CEO at Bo, said: 'As The Turbo development progressed, we realised that we were creating a monster. 'E–scooters have been revolutionising how people move locally, but they are yet to enter the leagues of mainstream automotive culture. 'The Turbo is part of our mission to elevate these futuristic electric vehicles into the top tier of automotive performance.' Thankfully, the hefty cost will likely put off most potential buyers – The Turbo has an base price of $29,500. Bo spent 18 months developing The Turbo, which is crafted out of aerospace grade aluminium. At the heart of the vehicle is a 'cutting–edge powertrain', featuring a 24,000W dual motor propulsion system. Meanwhile, the main battery is 1800Wh – large enough to supply fast–charging to 1,500 iPhones simultaneously. So, while most e–scooters you see on the roads today have a range of around 15–40 miles on a single charge, The Turbo can travel up to 150 miles before you need to plug it in, according to Bo. The company carried out its first test runs at the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit. Across 20 runs, piloted by professional racing rider, Tre Whyte, the vehicle clocked in a top speed of 85mph. For comparison, the speed limit for e–scooters in the UK is currently 15.5mph. However, Bo isn't stopping there. The company now hopes to break the 100mph under Guinness World Record Supervision. Harry Wills, CTO at Bo, said: 'Having successfully completed the shakedown process on race tracks here in the UK, and with a high level of confidence in the stability and rideability of The Turbo, we are now initiating a process to increase the output and speed from the vehicle until we achieve our target.' A 'limited run' of Turbo commissions is currently in development, with a base price of $29,500. However, not just anyone can buy one.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
‘Not surprised': Data shows e-scooter injuries up 22% in Alberta
It's hard to escape the sight of an e-scooter, especially in popular zones like downtown, Whyte Avenue and around the Walterdale Bridge. As the popularity of these convenient rides continues to rise – so are the number of injuries. Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows hospitalizations related to e-scooter injuries have gone up 22 per cent in Alberta from 2022-23 to 2023-24. Louis Hugo Francescutti, a professor in the school of public health at the University of Alberta, said he isn't surprised by the uptick. 'You can't put something that moves fast on the street, make it accessible with a credit card – no need for helmets – and your target audience is primarily young males who, most of the time, are intoxicated,' Francescutti told CTV News Edmonton. 'I'm not surprised.' He believes the numbers actually under-represent the injuries that are occurring because of those who get injured but don't go to the hospital. 'What's really sad is it's continuing and not much is changing in terms of rules and regulations,' Francescutti went on. 'These are totally predictable and preventable injuries, yet we continue to waste so much of our health-care resources dealing with them, when really, we shouldn't have to.' But Patrick Graham, general manager of shared e-scooter company BIRD Canada, said the number of incidents is actually dropping. 'The number of people using e-scooters is accelerating way faster than the number of incidents,' said Graham, adding that their own data shows the safety rate has been improving year over year since launching in 2017. 'The CIHI data, while concerning, is misleading,' said Graham. 'E-scooters are not getting more dangerous over time, people are just using them more often, so the gross number of incidents is obviously going to go up.' He says the city allows shared e-scooters to go up to 20 kilometres per hour while personal e-scooters can sometimes go up to 50 kilometres an hour. 'Sometimes there are significantly safer measures in the shared mobility space versus personal devices that are less regulated.' But Francescutti is skeptical, saying he expects next year's CIHI data to get worse before it gets better. Jenny Albers, acting director of traffic operations for parks and road services with the City of Edmonton, said it is 'actively working with vendors to encourage safe behaviours' on shared e-scooters. While there is no curfew for e-scooters, Albers said vendors require riders to complete an impairment test between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. In-app education is also provided by e-scooter vendors. The city can fine users between $100 and $250 for non-compliance related to the misuse of e-scooters, said Albers, adding that laws concerning the operation of an e-scooter while intoxicated are under Edmonton police jurisdiction. Under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, helmets are not required for e-scooters but are for those riding e-bikes. Riders must be 18 years or older to use shared e-scooters or e-bikes. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson.
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Stupid': Queensland man's horrific e-scooter crash at busy intersection
A Queensland man's sunny day out quickly turned south after being launched from his e-scooter at a busy intersection. In footage captured by a nearby hotel, the man – dressed in a red T-shirt, black shorts, a multi-coloured cap and wearing a black backpack – is seen cruising down Musgrave Street in Berserker just after 1.30pm on July 7. Directing the e-scooter with one hand, with his phone in the other, the front wheel is seen clipping a small dip as the rider crosses the intersection at Edington St. He is sent flying over the front of the handlebars before landing heavily on his left arm. Curling into the foetal position, the man is seen screaming and writhing in pain on the road as a passer-by runs over to help. Many social media users were unimpressed with the crash, labelling the rider 'stupid' for using his phone while operating the scooter. 'And that my friends is why you wear a helmet ', one wrote. 'I feel for him but it was totally avoidable, don't use your phone while riding,' a second said. A third added: 'These particular hire scooters are NOT permitted to be ridden on roads, he's also riding against traffic, and using his phone. 'A self inflicted accident on a scooter that is speed limited to 25 km/h.' 'Riding a scooter in the middle of the road while using the mobile phone … God was just giving him a warning,' another joked. The passer-by, labelled a 'champ' and a 'legend', was commended for coming to the rider's aid so quickly. It comes only a month after a teenager was killed after falling from his electric scooter in Mareeba, about 60km west of Cairns, in June. He suffered critical head injuries and died at the scene.
