Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 20 June 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 June 2022. It was answered by Trudy Harrison (Conservative) on Thursday, 23 June 2022 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Electric Scooters: Roads

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide a summary of current legislation relating to the use of e-scooters on public highways in the UK.

Answer

As motor vehicles having fewer than 4 wheels and weighing less than 410 kg unladen, e-scooters are classed as motorcycles as defined in Section 185 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and, because of their low speed, within the subclass of moped. This means that e-scooters have to abide by the same road traffic legislation as mopeds and motorcycles.

The Electric Scooter Trials and Traffic Signs (Coronavirus) Regulations and General Directions 2020 (SI 2020/663) were introduced to allow the e-scooter trials to take place. The regulations remove or relax requirements for rental e-scooters being used in a permitted trial area, in a way which is proportionate to the vehicle type, to enable trials to take place on public roads.

The Traffic Signs (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/75) further refined the application of the TSRGD to e-scooters being used in a trial to clarify where e-scooters are permitted for use within defined trial areas.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 21181
Session: 2022-23
Subjects: Roads Electric scooters
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Electric Scooters: Roads

Secondary information

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