E-scooter crashes killed 12 and left 1,500 injured last year | UK News

12 people died in e-scooter crashes in Britain last year, new figures show.

The latest data from the Department for Transport also showed a further 1,446 people were injured in crashes in 2022.

11 riders and one pedestrian died in collisions involving e-scooters last year, and of those injured, 1,106 people were riders, 233 were pedestrians and 47 were cyclists.

14 of the people injured last year were aged under 10, while 387 were between 10-19 years of age.

That is compared with 2021 when 1,424 people were injured in e-scooter crashes.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: ‘As the e-scooter trials rumble on these figures show that the vehicles are in frequent use – and apparently all-too frequent collisions – across the whole country.

‘Real life is very quickly getting ahead of legislation.

‘As ministers ponder the future of these devices, it is important councils are better funded to keep highway surfaces up to scratch so all road users – not least those on two wheels – don’t fall foul of the rash of potholes which remain far too common.’

Private e-scooters aren’t allowed to be ridden on UK roads or pavements but they’ve become a common sight, particularly in towns and busy areas.

If you’re caught riding a privately owned e-scooter you could be fined, get points on your driving licence, and the e-scooter could be impounded.

There are however trials of rental e-scooters ongoing in a number of towns and cities across England.

Recently a number of rail operators, including South Western Railway and Southeastern, have banned e-scooters on their services. This is because they pose a fire risk due to the possibility of their batteries overheating.

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