‘Illegal e-scooters could cause tragic accidents in county’

E-scooters in private ownership are increasingly seen on Oxford’s roads, footpaths, cycleways and the Thames tow path - all illegally. 

Their riders rarely wear hi-vis jackets - would you if you were committing a crime (motorised vehicles require insurances, driving without insurance is a crime)? 

They rarely wear helmets : that is adding more than stupidity to criminality as a lifetime of brain injury is catastrophic for their families and the health services.  

Now as the school term has started I am seeing young people on these illegal vehicles on main roads such as the Banbury^[2] Road north of Kidlington A4260 where the speed limit is 50 or above and there are no street lights, cycle paths or  pavements.

Days are shortening, dusk is earlier and school uniforms are dark colours, as are the privately owned scooters. 

Before there are tragedies we all need enforcement of the law about these motorised vehicles, getting them back onto private land only. 

Police, schools, parents and other road users all have responsibility for this.

If a minor comes to your house on one of these and you let them leave riding it you are potentially an accessory to a crime and will have their injuries on your conscience forever.

If it is your child who is seriously injured riding one , buying the scooter for them similarly will haunt with you for life.  

As a solution to urban transport these have huge potential - but only if age limited, competence tested like a motor bike, car or van, insured and restricted to cycle lanes and residential streets.

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