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13 August 2021 / Sarah Prager , Lucie Clinch
Issue: 7945 / Categories: Features , E-scooters , Personal injury
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E-scooters: time to catch up with reality?

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Sarah Prager & Lucie Clinch examine the challenges & dangers around the increased use of e-scooters in the UK
  • Urgent legislation is required to curb dangerous e-scooter use on UK roads.
  • Both motorists and cyclists are likely to welcome new legislation governing the use of e-scooters on UK roads.
  • it is crucial that the MIB covers claims where uninsured or untraced e-scooter riders cause injury or damage.

Recent research suggests that electric scooters are likely to be involved in up to 200,000 accidents this year as more than a million people become novice riders. The sheer scale of the use of the motorised scooters, against a backdrop of limited trials and restricted legal use, suggests a need for swift legislative action so that the law can catch up with the reality on UK roads.

Limited legality

The use of e-scooters on public roads is currently illegal in the UK, although you wouldn’t know it if you live in one of the 31 trial areas. Anyone found using one outside of the trials is

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After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
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