As the new school term starts, the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) is reminding parents and carers that it is against the law for them to allow their child to ride an e-scooter to school, or anywhere on the roads, pavements, cycle tracks or parks.
Private e-scooters are illegal to ride on public highways. If a child is stopped by Essex Police officers and there is suspicion that a parent or carer has purchased an e-scooter for them and allowed its use on the highway, the parent may be investigated for causing or permitting a traffic offence. This can result in a £300 fine, penalty points, and in some cases prosecution. It is also likely that the e-scooter will be seized.
It is important to note that the only e-scooters legal to use on public roads in Essex are those hired through the government-approved trial operated by Voi. These can only be used by people aged 18 or over who hold a valid driving licence and are available in Chelmsford and will soon follow in Braintree and then Colchester further down the line, through a contract with Essex County Council. Trial scooters are subject to strict safety and insurance measures and it is forbidden to hire a Voi e-scooter on anyone else’s behalf. All privately owned e-scooters remain illegal on public roads, regardless of where or how they are purchased.
Unfortunately, experience shows that private e-scooters have real risks to a child’s safety. Children who use e-scooters have limited road safety awareness and skills, do not know the Highway Code, and are not trained to anticipate the behaviour of other road users or in hazard perception. They are unlikely to wear helmets, use lights, or indicate their intentions, which makes them particularly vulnerable. Even at speeds below 15mph, collisions can cause serious harm, both to the rider and to others. As a parent you will be responsible if your child injures someone else.
Cllr Lee Scott, Chair of the SERP Governance Board, said: “The SERP’s priority is to prevent people being killed or seriously injured on our roads. Privately owned e-scooters are illegal and unsafe, and we need to make sure this message is clear to every parent and carer. By working together with schools, communities and families, we can reduce the risks, improve understanding, and keep children safe.”
The SERP is working closely with schools to raise awareness of this safety issue as part of its ambition toward Vision Zero, a future with no death or serious injuries on Essex roads, with the Road Safety Education Team delivering programmes in schools to help children develop the skills and confidence needed to travel safely.
Naomi Woodruff, Road Safety Education Team Leader for Essex Highways, added: “Through our work in schools, we see the incredible impact that education has on children’s attitudes and behaviours around road safety. Most parents set a brilliant example, and we encourage every family to keep modelling safe choices. Please do not let your child be at risk by using an e-scooter on the highway.”
For full information and advice on private e-scooters, visit: www.saferessexroads.org/e-scooters
Voi hire e-scooters are part of an official government trial, making them legal to use on public roads, cycle lanes, and public spaces where cycle usage is permitted. For people with a driving licence that wish to use an e-scooter, they are available to hire legally through the contract between Essex County Council and new provider Voi. They can be hired using the Voi app: Voi | E-scooters for hire in Chelmsford
