Government update on e-scooter use for under-18s as thousands call for stricter rules

The Department for Transport (DfT) has delivered a crucial update regarding electric scooter usage following thousands of complaints about 'insufficient regulation' for under-18s. The announcement comes at a time when no age restrictions exist on purchasing private e-scooters, despite public riding remaining illegal for all ages.

The DfT stressed this point in response to a parliamentary petition that 'urgently' demanded tougher enforcement and penalties for these regulations. The department also provided assurance that it is 'taking action' against misselling and unlawful use of private e-scooters, whilst rental schemes within national trials must meet 'strict requirements'.

"E-scooters meet the definition of a 'motor vehicle' under the Road Traffic Act 1988," the DfT's update issued on August 13 reads. "This means that private e-scooters are already illegal to use on the road for people of all ages.

"When selling e-scooters, retailers must make it clear that they can only be used on private land with the landowner's permission. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Market Surveillance Unit (DVSA MSU) carries out surveillance of e-scooter retailers to ensure they are being sold lawfully and that the purchaser is made aware that they can only be used on private land with the landowner's permission."

Between 2023 and 2024, the DVSA MSU probed 46 e-scooter suppliers, discovering that over half (24 suppliers) had 'some elements of non-compliance'. As a result, 22 were compelled to take 'corrective action', while the remaining two removed non-compliant advertising.

Despite this, the Government acknowledged that some people continue to misuse e-scooters, and police are therefore being given 'stronger powers to stop vehicles being used disruptively'.

The DfT response continued: "Enforcement of illegal and/or irresponsible e-scooter use is a matter for the police. Users can face fines and fixed penalty notices, criminal prosecution, points on their driving licence and have their e-scooter impounded.

"The Government is giving the police stronger powers to stop vehicles being used disruptively, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing illegally owned private e-scooters. This will allow them to deal swiftly with dangerous e-scooters on pavements.

"New Respect Orders will give the police and local councils powers to ban persistent offenders from certain areas where they are causing harm, and failure to comply with Respect Orders will be a criminal offence. They will be piloted prior to a national rollout to ensure they are as effective as possible."

Nonetheless, the DfT drew a vital distinction between privately-owned e-scooter usage and hire schemes accessible through public trials. Privately purchased e-scooters may only be operated on private property with a landowner's consent, rendering them entirely prohibited for use in public areas. Violating these regulations could lead to a penalty, licence points, or confiscation of the vehicle.

However, electric hire scooters - offered through DfT trials - are permitted for use in designated zones across the country. These differ because they are limited to 15.5mph, and any user is required to have a provisional or full driving licence.

This means the minimum driver age is 16. The DfT response explained: "As a condition of running a trial, each e-scooter operator must provide third-party unlimited liability insurance. Trial e-scooters are required to meet minimum standards on e-scooter design and each e-scooter model used in the trials is assessed for compliance.

"A second national evaluation of the e-scooter trials is currently underway, focusing on user and public safety, accessibility impacts and how e-scooters can be safely and effectively integrated into the wider transport network."

On a separate note, it also added: "Currently, the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) is covering the personal injury and property damage costs generated by private e-scooter riders at fault for a collision, as part of their 'Uninsured Drivers Agreement'.

"The Government is committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility. As announced in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan as part of the Government's Industrial Strategy, we will create a new vehicle category for a more proportionate and agile process for regulating vehicles like e-scooters. Any new regulations will be consulted on before they come into force."

The DfT's update came after a parliamentary petition entitled 'Urgently regulate e-scooters', which currently has just over 14,000 signatures. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

You can view the petition in full here.

Full list of rental e-scooter trial locations

According to official Government guidance, the following areas are currently participating in rental scooter trials:

• Newcastle
• North and West Northamptonshire (Northampton, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Rushden and Higham Ferrers)
• Norwich
• Nottingham
• Oxford
• Salford
• Slough
• Solent (Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton)
• West Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry)
• West of England Combined Authority (Bristol, Bath and parts of South Gloucestershire)
• Bournemouth and Poole
• Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough)
• Cambridge
• Essex (Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester)
• Gloucestershire (Cheltenham, Gloucester and surrounding areas)
• Liverpool
• London (participating boroughs)
• Milton Keynes