Arabic version: تجارب الدراجات الكهربائية الصغيرة تنتظر قواعد بريطانية طويلة الأمد

According to BBC News, government-backed rental e-scooter trials in England have yet to produce a decision on permanent schemes or rules for privately owned devices. Southampton has hosted a trial since 2021, with rental scooters used by commuters including people travelling to railway stations. Across 30 trial areas outside London, 36.9 million trips were made between January 2022 and May 2024, while nearly 19,500 e-scooters were available for hire each day on average.

Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal to ride on public roads across the UK. They are classed as motor vehicles and, outside trials, cannot be insured, meaning they can legally be used only on private land with the owner’s permission. The Department for Transport estimates that between 760,000 and 1.2 million people in England aged 16 and over own one. Police forces seize devices used illegally, but officers say enforcement can be difficult.

Safety remains a central concern. Department for Transport figures recorded 1,390 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters in England, Scotland and Wales in 2024, including 1,096 e-scooter users. Six deaths were recorded, the same number as in the previous year; five were riders and one was a pedestrian. Rental trial scooters have speed limits and insurance requirements, while users need a full or provisional driving licence and must not ride on pavements.

The Department for Transport said the trials were building real-world evidence needed to get regulation right and that it would consult on longer-term rules, including registration and licensing requirements, within the next year. Scotland and Wales have said they are waiting for Westminster action because the UK government holds responsibility for road traffic legislation across Great Britain. New findings from the English trials are expected by early next year.