To call it an idiots guide is harsh, the concept is to make the laws simple enough to understand so that you get it, and your children aren’t paying the price for your opinions, nor you having to pay the price of theirs! After all, one thing is certain. It all gets paid out at the bank of Mum and Dad, whoever is right or wrong!
For the Adults out there that have the same mindset – well, you make your decision, you deal with the consequences. We would never tell you what to do; that isn’t our thing, never has been – but we will ensure you are aware of the consequences when you are caught. The decision and your future is up to you!
Electrics bikes and Scooters are everywhere, and opinions are strongly against the current legislations that prevent their use on the highway unless you have a licence, insurance and registration. The reason for this, is that they are mechanically propelled and are classed as an electric motorcycle. They both are powered by a motor, energy coming from a battery and controlled by the throttle, and both are capable of speeds up to 80mph in some (off road) models. So they do the same speeds as a small capacity motorcycle that requires licence, registration, insurance and CBT to ensure the vehicle and rider is safe and any ‘bumps’ are covered. That doesn’t just mean you; that’s the car you didn’t see, the pram you sent flying or the old lady you sent off in an ambulance. You can’t insure these, so make sure you have some savings set aside for legal fees at least.
We can deal with the arguments below – but lets get one thing straight, and make it simple and easy to fathom. It doesn’t matter how many times it is explained, the parents or riders still churn out the environmental argument or that the law isn’t up to date. I agree, the law is outdated, but it doesn’t mean you can pick and choose what laws you abide by, and ignore laws that are inconvenient is not a good lesson to be teaching your children. Inconvenient today may be riding a motorcycle without a licence; tomorrow it could be owning the car they are driving, or having to pay for goods they need. It all starts with what boundaries parents allow them to push.
The same arguments that are used to validate your private e-scooter or modified e-bike use, are the same with an EV car. So would you let your 10 year old drive your EV car to school? Why not? It is clean, better for the environment and convenient. It gives the child freedom, they can see their mates, go down to the park or hang out with friends and give them lifts places.
Ridiculous – you need a licence to drive, right? You need a licence, training, insurance…..They’d hurt someone. What fool would allow their kid behind the wheel at such a young age, and carry passengers? It is preposterous to imagine a child driving your EV around, right?. Exactly…
The Law, The Consequences, The Costs.
What about Hire Ones?
Hire scooters and Bikes come under special schemes – pedal assist is legal and limited to 15mph. Hire scooters share the same speed limit, but are operated under a special scheme set up between the hire companies and the government under a trial. Each scooter is registered, it has a small ‘plate’ on the bike with a code. That registers that machine with the hire company, and can be traced for insurance claims and incidences just like a motorcycle. Hirers MUST have a provisional or full driving licence that is registered with the company. The company cover you under their hire insurance against injury death or third party damages. That satisfies the law that the vehicle is compliant with the Road Traffic Act. ‘Fronting’ is an offence whereby someone with a licence will lend that to someone knowingly, such as a child, to enable them to hire an e-scooter. Not only are you getting your child into trouble, but should something occur – then you could possibly have the legal kitchen sink thrown at you with everything from endangerment to fraud charges heading your way.
Private Ownership.
Private Ownership is legal, you can use them off road and that is perfectly ok. Think knocking around your Holiday Park, Airfield or Factory grounds should your need require; even a showground – as long as the landowner has given consent, that is fine. They are legally permitted in the same way as people have done with off road scramblers and trials bikes for decades. These are members of clubs, pay a small membership fee to access suitable land. They move them to sites in vans, have fun and return home. This is why they are sold.
As you CANNOT register, insure or tax them – and in some cases, social landlords will not allow them on their property due to fire risk – you cannot use them for transport, no matter how convenient you feel it is. They are for OFF ROAD. There is an option of ‘monthly hire’ with the hire schemes to get you to work and back – ask your local provider, it can be as little as £30 a month and you have nothing to worry about, they maintain it, so it is cheaper as well. Point is, the convenience argument for having your own on the road, doesn’t wash!
An adult with a driving licence can expect a conviction for driving without insurance and points on their licence for 4 years, a fine of around £600-1000; and an obligation to disclose to insurers for 5 years. This typically will hike insurance considerably as it shows that you are willing to take risks with safety and are dishonest.
Consequences.
Risks are very high, with IN10 prosecutions on under 16’s alone up by over 2600pc in the last few years, deaths and injuries are alarmingly high. An IN10 will be enough for a younger driver to have a ban, and have to resit a test as their 2 year maximum penalty point levy will be filled. A rider with no licence, will not get away scot free – though they may have to pay the fine straight away, the driving ban and points get added when they apply for a licence. This will delay passing their driving or riding tests some years, and make insurance almost impossible in some cases when insurance is already astronomical. Driving without Insurance is as serious as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Again, that hammers parents as it is the bank of mum and dad that will be shelling out these fines, extra driving lessons, extra tests and doubling of already skyrocketing young driver insurance at a time where you may be well over e-scooters have a career and want to get to work and back. Think about the future, and decide if your suffering then will be worthwhile or not for what is a short gain.
Parents can also find themselves be charged with causing or permitting the offence by purchasing the e-scooter, or allowing it’s use. Safer Essex Roads Partnership issued a warning to parents that they could lose their licences, and be prosecuted under these circumstances. SERP says that ‘experience shows that children who use e-scooters have limited road safety awareness and skills, and are not trained to anticipate the behaviour of other road users or perceive hazards’.
REAL CASE STUDIES
Linda Davis, 71, of Nottingham was struck and killed by an e-scooter ridden by a 14 year old child at 20mph. The child of no previous convictions was convicted of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving.
He was put on a 12 month referral order, and banned for driving for 5 years. His Parents were handed down 6 month parenting orders as well as paying fines and costs. His Ban and Points will be added to any licence he applies for – meaning that if he applies at 17, he’ll be 22 when the ban expires and he can start to catch up with his peers, and may even permanently damage their career path.
Jacob Calland, 14, was killed when he collided with a car, whilst riding an e-scooter with his friend, also 14, as a passenger. He had been warned to stay away from them – but what harm could getting a lift do?
His mother describes how he said goodbye as he went out the door with his friend as many teenagers do. It all seemed like a normal day of any parent. But in 18 minutes, her son would lose his life. She now campaigns to raise awareness with parents about the dangers of allowing your children to ride these machines.
These stories are tragic, unnecessary and easily preventable . There are far too many youngsters dying on the roads today with e-scooters and e-bikes that are illegal and have been adapted for greater speeds. It is not only the legality that parents have to consider and the risk of prosecution and impacts already mentioned of conviction or death. These machines are often the targets of violent theft by gangs, and in many cases have been the introduction of vulnerable teens into criminal gang culture. We have seen many examples of teens being used as drug or money mules for county lines or vehicle theft gangs that steal motorcycles and cars. Due to technology, many of them now need the keys, which is leading many teens into burglary. These machines are sought after as silent and agile for casing prospective thefts of vehicles and houses, and as get away vehicles for robberies of cycles and other scooters.
That may seem extreme or alarmist side to a post about e-scooters and e-bikes – it isn’t! It is a common point where teens are either robbed violently of their e-scooter, or they are groomed into further criminal activity. Typical recruitment age is between 11 and 16. The youngest we have on our records was 8 years of age. By the time he reached 13 he would have killed his friend and passenger on a stolen motorcycle. An event that would lead to him spending 12 years in prison.
