Yahoo News The law on e-scooters explained as rider spotted on motorway during Storm Darragh
As a man was spotted riding an e-scooter on a motorway this weekend during Storm Darragh, Yahoo News UK outlines the current law and speed limit on the popular vehicles.
Watch: Masked man risks his life riding e-scooter on motorway in middle of Storm Darragh
Riding an e-scooter on a busy motorway isn't a wise move at the best of times, let alone during a storm that battered the country with wind speeds of over 90mph.
Birmingham locals were taken aback by footage showing an e-scooter rider risking his life on the Aston Expressway over the weekend as Storm Darragh swept the UK.
Dressed in a long black jacket and a balaclava, he can be seen slowly ambling down the middle lane of the motorway in dark conditions and heavy rain, as the Birmingham area was hit by 60mph winds.
The footage, obtained by the Birmz Is Grime blog, was filmed on Saturday – the same day Kher Hussain Shahin died in the Birmingham suburb of Erdington after a tree fell onto his car.
"Not a brightest idea on the best of days but to do it during that storm is braindead moronic. Must have a death wish," one viewer of the video commented. Another added: "Lucky he wasn't killed....dark clothes, no helmet, madness."
A West Midlands Police spokesman told Yahoo News: "We are aware of the video and have reviewed it.
"It is illegal to ride private scooters on public land in the UK. An e-scooter scheme is now available in Birmingham as part of a government trial, but the scooters cannot be ridden on motorways."
It comes as Warwickshire Police warn parents considering buying their children e-scooters for Christmas that they are illegal to use in most places.
So, when and where these vehicles allowed to be used? Here, Yahoo News takes a look at where the law stands on e-scooters.
Can you legally ride an e-scooter in the UK?
E-scooters are not illegal, and it is legal to buy them in the UK, however, they are subject to a number of restrictions.
Privately owned e-scooters can only be used on privately owned land, such as a garden, and riders must have permission from the landowner to do so, according to guidance from London's Metropolitan Police.
Where are you allowed to ride an e-scooter in the UK?
In a bid to reduce public transport capacity and encourage greener modes of travel, the Department for Transport made regulations in July 2020 allowing local authorities to trial the use of rented e-scooters.
More than 25 of these trials are currently taking place in England, but no such schemes have taken place in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland yet, although some cities have expressed an interest.
Riders can use e-scooters on a road, or in a cycle lane, but not on motorways or on the pavement, according to UK government guidance.
Users must have a driving licence with category Q entitlement, which covers two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles without pedals with a maximum designed speed of no more than 15.5mph.
If you have a provisional licence, you do not need to show L plates when using a rental e-scooter. E-scooters must have motor insurance, but for trial schemes, this will be provided by the rental operator.
E-scooters should only be used within the local area hosting the trial, must not be used to tow anything and should only be used by one person at a time.
The areas with e-scooter trials are in place:
Bournemouth and Poole
Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough)
Cambridge
Essex (Basildon, Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester)
Gloucestershire (Cheltenham and Gloucester)
Liverpool
London (in 10 participating boroughs)
Milton Keynes
Newcastle
North and West Northamptonshire (Northampton, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Rushden and Higham Ferrers)
North Devon
Norwich
Oxfordshire (Oxford)
Salford
Slough
Solent (Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton)
Somerset (Taunton, Minehead and Yeovil)
West Midlands (Birmingham)
West of England Combined Authority (Bristol and Bath)
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