Over 500 privately owned e-scooters seized by London police last week
Hundreds of London’s e-scooter riders had their equipment seized by police last week, as the capital’s e-scooter scheme has swayed many private owners to take to the roads.
The Metropolitan Police said its officers confiscated 507 of the tech-transport devices during “proactive patrols” across London’s boroughs.
Transport for London (TfL) began trialling the e-scooters as a cleaner mode of transport for city dwellers, particularly those travelling to and from financial districts.
TfL’s e-scooter lead, Helen Sharp, told Morning Wire: “Private use of e-scooters remains illegal in public places and we support the police’s enforcement activity to prevent them being used in a dangerous manner.
“Despite being illegal private e-scooters have been on our streets for some time now. Our trial of rental e-scooters, which offers the only e-scooters legally allowed on London’s roads.
“London’s trial is taking the needs of all road users into account and it will help us understand what role e-scooters can play in London’s future.”
Private e-scooters cannot legally be used in the UK except on private land.
Chief Superintendent Simon Ovens said: “Private use of e-scooters remains illegal on London roads.
“Riders using e-scooters on the road risk fines, points on their licence, and e-scooter seizures if they continue to use them on public road networks.”
London’s 12-month programme began earlier this month, but cities across the UK have had similar trials.
Safety concerns
There have been long-running safety concerns about e-scooters.
A 20-year old e-scooter rider, Shakur Pinnock, died in hospital on 18 June, six days after he was involved in a crash with a car in Wolverhampton.
Pinnock is believed to be the second e-scooter rider to die following a road incident in the UK.
A three-year-old also boy suffered serious injuries In April when he was struck by an e-scooter in Feltham.
However, Transport for London (TfL) has vowed to put safety at the “core of the trial”, while scooter speeds will be capped as 12.5mph.