CONCERN has been raised over the illegal use of e-scooters on the roads of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Figures by the Department for Transport show 20 people were recorded as injured by Dorset Police last year, with nearly 1,500 casualties involving e-scooters nationwide.
Dorset’s police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said he has “many concerns” over the use of illegal scooters.
In BCP, the only legal use of e-scooters is on a Beryl, which requires users to register via an app and their driver’s licence details added.
Mr Sidwick said: “I take issue with the irresponsible retailers who sell these items, they are quite simply misleading the public.
“You cannot buy and use an e-scooter on any public land and that includes roads, pavements, pathways, bridleways or walkways – so unless you personally own great swathes of land in Dorset you simply cannot ride these machines legally outside of the Beryl rental scheme.”
Read more: Dorset man prosecuted for e-scooter offence in Bournemouth
For the year leading to January 2023, Dorset Police seized 85 e-scooters from the county’s roads and, when it comes to enforcement, are subject to the same legal requirements as a car – including MOT, licencing and insurance.
“Don’t get me wrong, I believe that e-scooters have the potential to be a transformative form of personal transport – if used correctly, and within the law,” Mr Sidwick added.
“However, there are too many people that use e-scooters in an irresponsible and dangerous manner.
“I have previously met with Beryl and was reassured that they manage the scheme professionally, and anyone found to be breaking their rules can and should be reported to them or the police.
“However, I do think there is room for improvement - for example, I would like to see properly visible, moped-sized ‘registration’ plates on the Beryl scooters.”
Read more: Huge rise in e-scooters disposed of by Dorset Police
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “As the e-scooter trials rumble on these figures show that the vehicles are in frequent use – and apparently all-too frequent collisions – across the whole country. Real life is very quickly getting ahead of legislation.”
A report compiled on behalf of the Government showed that the Beryl scheme’s scooters in the conurbation was the second most utilised.
Bournemouth and Poole also had the longest average trip distance of 3.8 kilometres and duration of 35 minutes.
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