Voice of London

E-scooters may replace fuel-consuming vehicles to improve urban air quality.

As the scooters are still in an experimental phase, it will take some time to determine the environmental and safety impacts of the switch.

Several injuries have been reported as a result of increasing e-scooter use, and inappropriate use of the vehicles has led to more road accidents across the country.

In the lead up to Christmas, retailers are trying to persuade people to buy e-scooters as gifts to increase sales performance.

But the London government has stated that that riding e-scooters on roads is illegal.

The Met has warned retailers about the federal ban on e-scooters, and Transport for London continues to remind them about issued legislation.

Warnings from The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) have announced that anyone riding an e-scooter without insurance and registration will be breaking the law.

Speaking to the BBC Kyle Gordon, responsible for Roads Policing at the Met Police, said retailers do not inform buyers of potential risks of riding e-scooters. As a result, accidents occur frequently and riders, or passers-by, may be injured.

On average, the e-scooters injuries cost NHS £1,000 for each patient. According to a report by PACTS, 90 e-scooter riders needed emergency treatment between May and June this year.

The government should keep watch on experimental results and create more requirements on legalised e-scooter riding, including the speed per hour and age limits.

Words: Catherine Chu |Subbing: Sarah Chaffey

Photo by JavyGo on Unsplash