Essential Road Safety Tips for Electric Scooter Drivers
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In 2022, police released figures showing that there were 1,492 casualties from accidents that involved e-scooters in the UK. Unfortunately, there were 11 deaths in that total.
Below, we share with you how you can ride your e-scooter safely and what you need to do to take care of your vehicle. We also explain how to claim compensation if you were involved in an e-scooter accident.
Riding your e-scooter responsibly
To stay safe when out riding your e-scooter, follow these 14 rules:
- Be aware of what’s around you: Stay alert when you’re riding your e-scooter. Watch the body language of cyclists, cars, vans, and other vehicles to anticipate their next move. Keep an eye out for pedestrians crossing the road or walking in a cycle lane.
- Obey the rules of the road: You’re only allowed to use a rented e-scooter on public roads, in cycle lanes, and in mixed pedestrian cycle-lanes in the UK. Stick to these areas and travel at a speed that’s safe for the traffic conditions.
- Use your indicators: Just as car drivers and motorcyclists use signals to tell other road users what they’re doing, make sure you do the same on your e-scooter. By letting others know your next move, you give them time to react.
- Check your blind spots: It can be hard for other road users to see you because of how small e-scooters are. Check your mirrors and look over your shoulders regularly to make sure you’re safe before you change lanes or turn left or right.
- Keep a safe distance: Leave a gap between you and cars, van, lorries, cyclists, and motorcyclists in front of you. This will give you time to get out of the way if they suddenly stop and reduce the chances that you’ll be involved in a rear-end collision.
- Wear safety gear: Although it’s not a legal requirement, you should wear safety gear when you’re out on an e-scooter. A helmet is a must and other gear like protective jackets, vests and pads for your knees and elbows will make you safer.
- Don’t ride under the influence: You may be fined, lose your licence and even go to prison if you ride an electric scooter under the influence. In addition, your reaction time is slower, your actions less precise, and you’ll find it hard to keep your balance.
- Always ride solo: You should never allow anyone to ride with you on your e-scooter because they’re designed for one person only. A second person riding with you makes your e-scooter hard to control, less stable, and less able to brake predictably.
- Stay focused: Using a mobile device when riding your e-scooter is an offence as well as being very unsafe. Try to avoid using headphones too so that you can hear as well as see what’s going on around you.
- Slow down for turns: Cyclists and motorcyclists put themselves at risk when they take a corner or turn at speed and so do e-scooter riders. Slow down before you turn, making sure you look over your shoulder if your e-scooter doesn’t have mirrors.
- Be mindful of the road surface: Your chances of losing control on an e-scooter are much higher on poorly maintained roads. Slow down if you’re travelling on an uneven surface or there are many potholes in the road.
- Take extra care in bad weather: Just like poor road surfaces, travelling on wet roads and in bad weather conditions is dangerous. There’ll be less grip on the road and you take longer to come to a stop. If you have to ride in bad weather, be extra cautious and keep your speed to a minimum.
- Stay away from pedestrian areas: It’s against the law to use e-scooters on pavements and in pedestrian-only areas. If you’re taking your e-scooter close to this type of area, make sure you know where you’ll park it in advance.
- Watch out for car doors: You may be knocked off your e-scooter if someone opens their car door and you ride into it. So you should slow down when passing parked cars because it’s harder for vehicle drivers and passengers to see or hear you.
Additional Sources:
https://driversed.com/trending/seven-tips-electric-scooter-safety
https://unagiscooters.com/scooter-articles/the-dos-and-donts-of-electric-scooter-riding
https://fluidfreeride.com/blogs/news/electric-scooter-safety-guide
Taking care of your e-scooter
Although it’s currently illegal to ride an e-scooter on public roads and pavements in the UK, you can use a privately owned e-scooter on private land not accessible to the public as long as you have permission from the landlord. not accessible to the public as long as you have permission from the landlord.
If you have your own e-scooter and wish to use it regularly on private land, take the following advice to ensure the best performance from your e-scooter and to improve your own safety:
- Do a pre-ride check: Before you take your e-scooter out for a ride, thoroughly check it over. Check the brake and the throttle to make sure they’re working properly. You should also make sure your battery is sufficiently charged.
- Maintain proper tyre pressure: E-scooters with worn tyres and tyres that have too little or too much pressure are harder to keep under control. For example, you’ll find riding on bumpy surfaces difficult if your tyres are under-inflated.
- Clean your e-scooter regularly: It can be difficult for others to see the lights on your scooter if they’re dirty. Also, your motor may be more prone to damage if you allow a buildup of debris and dirt.
- Care for your battery: When you’re not using your scooter, keep it and its batteries in a dry and cold place. Try to keep your battery level at a minimum of 50% and don’t overcharge it. Only use the charger your manufacturer recommends.
- Tighten each screw and bolt: Your e-scooter vibrates when it’s in motion, particularly so when it’s going over rough terrain. Check that each screw and bolt is tight before going for a ride, particularly around the brakes and handlebar.
- Perform regular maintenance: Extend the lifespan of your bike as well as its performance by taking it in for servicing at set intervals. You’ll save money on replacements plus enjoy improved handling and range. If braking and steering becomes difficult, take it in for repair straight away.
Additional Sources:
https://fluidfreeride.com/blogs/news/electric-scooter-safety-guide
https://unagiscooters.com/scooter-articles/the-dos-and-donts-of-electric-scooter-riding
What are the current rules on e-scooter use in the UK?
Under current UK law, you can ride an e-scooter on private land where there is no public access and you have permission from the landlord.
The government, working with local authorities and private rental companies, has been running an e-scooter trial in over 30 areas since 2020. In these areas, you can ride a rented e-scooter on public roads if you have a full or provisional driving licence that permits you to drive “Q” category vehicles.
You are only allowed to ride your rented e-scooter on public roads, cycle lanes, and mixed use lanes.
The trial is expected to end in May 2026. Then, the Government may decide to change the laws on where private and rented e-scooters can be used.
E-scooter safety FAQ
What happens if you get caught riding an electric scooter?
If you get caught riding a private electric scooter on public property or a rented e-scooter outside permitted areas, you may receive a fine, fixed penalty notice and/or points on your licence. For riders behaving antisocially, you may have your e-scooter seized. If you ride under the influence of alcohol, you may be subject to a custodial sentence.
What are the risks of e-scooters?
E-scooter riders are at risk of traumatic brain injuries, dental injuries, maxillofacial fractures, and soft tissue injuries. Pedestrians are also at risk of tripping over e-scooters. Riders are also at risk of lithium battery fires which can spread quickly and intensely.
Is it safe to ride an e-scooter?
Riding an e-scooter is safe if you operate the vehicle responsibly and pay due attention to other road users and cyclists.
What you should do if you’re involved in an accident when riding an e-scooter
The number of accidents involving e-scooters could increase as the popularity of this easy-to-operate and convenient form of transport goes up.
If you’ve been involved in an accident as either the rider of an e-scooter, another road user, or a pedestrian, contact The Compensation Experts to see if you might have a valid claim.
Speak to one of our team and tell them what happened to you. If they believe you have a case, they’ll put you in touch with an experienced road traffic accident solicitor who will represent you if you want to make an e-scooter accident compensation claim.
Our service is free of charge and many of the solicitors we work with provide their expertise and experience on a no-win, no-fee basis.*
*Typically, customers pay 25% including VAT of the compensation amount that is recovered by our third-party law firms, although this is subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be more or less than this. Termination fees may apply if you do not keep to the terms of the agreement.
Call us on 0800 182 2193 or click here to start your claim.
