The focus of this year’s Injury Prevention Week is e-scooters – something we’re currently reading a lot about in the press, especially following the Queen’s speech which revealed a law change to legalise the use of privately-owned e-scooters on public roads.
It’s estimated that this will lead to an influx of up to 750,000 e-scooters on the roads. With the scale of use set to significantly increase, safety is an important issue for everyone, whether they use e-scooters or not – in 2021 there were nearly 900 casualties from collisions involving e-scooters, some injuries were catastrophic and some incidents resulted in death.
During Injury Prevention Week this year we, along with APIL want to highlight the legislative and practical measures which could help protect people and reduce the number of these incidents.
Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety recommendations
Following the Queen’s speech, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety produced a briefing note listing its evidence-based recommendations regarding e-scooter use and construction. These include recommendations of:
- A maximum speed of 12.5 miles per hour
- Lighting to be mandatory at all times
- An audible warning device to be mandatory
- Helmet wearing to be mandatory
- Rider age limit of at least 16 years
- Carrying of a passenger to be prohibited
- Drink driving and mobile phone use to be prohibited
You can read the full PACTS briefing note here.
The Major Trauma Group, of which Burnetts is a proud member, are joining PACTS to request that if e-scooter use on roads and in other public places is to be legalised then there must be legislation to include evidence-based safety measures to protect the riders and other road users. This will hopefully reduce further needless injuries to e-scooters riders, pedestrians and other road users.
Can Major Trauma Group help?
Major Trauma Group is a network of specialist serious injury law firms, experienced in dealing with claims following major trauma. We can provide assistance to clients throughout England and Wales and we are supported by a medical clinician who can advise on rehabilitation, independent financial advisers and case managers who are all highly experienced in this field. If you would like to contact one of our members, you can email us at hello@majortraumagroup.co.uk and phone us on 0330 311 2578.
