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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

So many E-scooter deaths..

161 replies

Newandveryconfused · 29/07/2023 18:14

Aibu... To want to have E-scooter drivers pass maybe a theory test? They are meant to be illegal, but let's face it... They're everywhere. I see about 3-4 a day! Knowing the law of the road might be somewhat helpful. It 'might' prevent done of these fatal outcomes maybe.. I don't know. What do you think?

OP posts:
Saoirse82 · 29/07/2023 22:44

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 29/07/2023 20:02

34 deaths from 2019 to now on e-scooters.

1558 deaths in cars in 2021 alone.

Think we need to ban cars too.

Not comparable

Most British households own a car, they don't own an E scooter.

RootbeerLolly · 29/07/2023 22:42

Saschka · 29/07/2023 22:15

@PriamFarrl Lots of parents use them for the school/nursery run around here. So one mum, and two or three tiny kids hanging onto her, weaving in and out of traffic at speed. Honestly terrifying.

I'm doubting there's many mums with three kids on one scooter caning it around at speed. This is just hyperbole. Four people on one scooter?

RootbeerLolly · 29/07/2023 22:40

MaxiPadd · 29/07/2023 19:38

Disabled person who uses a mobility scooter- goes at 4mph max and I'm not permitted to use it on the road, only pedestrian areas

Yes, I think we need a crackdown- they go at far higher speeds than I'm allowed to drive my mobility scooter and they have far less impact protection than even a bicycle for those who ride them. They're illegal anyway other than on private property so it shouldn't have ever got to the current state but we can't have things going at 20mph on pavements safely!

Some can reach 50mph!

The one I saw was doing over 30mph. I know this because I was doing 30mph, which was the speed limit. As scooters don't havr numberplates be obv didnt need to worry getting a speeding fine via ANPR.

unfairopinionmaybe · 29/07/2023 22:27

Soapyspuds · 29/07/2023 22:19

They need to be banned completely. They are a fking nightmare. A 13 year old youth local to me is currently in ICU with serious head injuries from riding at speed on a e scooter

A skateboard could be lethal if the operator is using it the wrong way. As with many things it is often a case of user error. I only hope that innocent people are not harmed.

E scooters are no more inherently dangerous than a motorbike.

Yes they are

A motorbike is usually driven wearing a helmet and leathers

An E scooter has a tiny handlebar as it's only impact protection- so essentially none - no crumple zone whatsoever before if a person hits something they also hit it

A motorcycle at least has a small impact zone

Soapyspuds · 29/07/2023 22:19

They need to be banned completely. They are a fking nightmare. A 13 year old youth local to me is currently in ICU with serious head injuries from riding at speed on a e scooter

A skateboard could be lethal if the operator is using it the wrong way. As with many things it is often a case of user error. I only hope that innocent people are not harmed.

E scooters are no more inherently dangerous than a motorbike.

Saschka · 29/07/2023 22:15

@PriamFarrl Lots of parents use them for the school/nursery run around here. So one mum, and two or three tiny kids hanging onto her, weaving in and out of traffic at speed. Honestly terrifying.

RudsyFarmer · 29/07/2023 22:11

I absolutely loathe these things. Death traps for the riders and the pedestrians.

Herejusttocomment · 29/07/2023 22:08

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 29/07/2023 20:02

34 deaths from 2019 to now on e-scooters.

1558 deaths in cars in 2021 alone.

Think we need to ban cars too.

What's the ratio of deaths to e-scooter/car users?

Sureaseggs44 · 29/07/2023 22:04

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 29/07/2023 20:02

34 deaths from 2019 to now on e-scooters.

1558 deaths in cars in 2021 alone.

Think we need to ban cars too.

But you have to look at that as a percentage of drivers v riders otherwise it is meaningless .

FernsAndFlowers · 29/07/2023 22:04

I've seen a couple of kids at DC’s primary school with electric scooters - school doesn’t seem to have an issue with them being kept on school premises!

Original poster
Newandveryconfused · 29/07/2023 22:04

Yes..... I was meant to say 🛴🛴... 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Keepithidden · 29/07/2023 22:02

"Actually I think a better measure is to compare rates by per mile traveled."

Or maybe by time spent travelling? Of course if you want to show something you already believe all of these are useful! Not aimed at PP, just something to be aware of!

Original poster
Newandveryconfused · 29/07/2023 22:00

Newandveryconfused · 29/07/2023 20:24

The latter. They are just everywhere. More so on paths and around town centres. Going at speed! It's just wrong. Seeing the elderly flinch as they've not heard it... But then almost get knocked over by them is just 😡..
Our local town centre changed to pedestrian only... Now we've these 🤦🏼‍♀️... So pointless really

Show quote history

Apologises.... 🛴🛴🛴🛴These are what I mean...🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
topnoddy · 29/07/2023 21:57

Ylvamoon · 29/07/2023 18:25

Well, in our town you can actually hire one legally.

No helmet & anyone who pays can ride it.... a nuisance at best!
Sadly, they are here to stay.

Same here , we have bloody cycles as well now .
They just get dumped all over the place as well , i'd like to round em all up and put em in a crusher !

ThreeFeetTall · 29/07/2023 21:44

I meant cars are dangerous Blush

ThreeFeetTall · 29/07/2023 21:44

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 29/07/2023 20:02

34 deaths from 2019 to now on e-scooters.

1558 deaths in cars in 2021 alone.

Think we need to ban cars too.

Actually I think a better measure is to compare rates by per mile traveled. Card are generous but travel much further. So overall the risk is lower. Here the stats show motorcycles as most dangerous but not sure if that would include the vechikes we are talking about

www.statista.com/statistics/300601/average-number-of-fatalities-according-to-transport-in-the-united-kingdom/

FlamingYam · 29/07/2023 21:33

Luckydip1 · 29/07/2023 19:17

They are amazing from an environmental point of you, great for short trips which might otherwise be taken by car. Speed limiting would help with safety.

They are limited. The scheme ones here are 20mph as standard BUT you can limit to 15 as a safety measure.

FlamingYam · 29/07/2023 21:32

DigbyTheDigger · 29/07/2023 18:48

Do you mean electric scooter like 🛴 or 🛵?

You must mean the former? The latter is quite well controlled and have been about for decades.

The former are new and are illegal to use on the road unless in a government scheme where you do need a driving licence. So legally they're covered but the police are not available to control things like this.

Cramlington567 · 29/07/2023 21:31

They fit well with decent cycling infrastructure i.e. long segregated cycle paths. If we could expand these on arterial routes I think they could be a good option as they are becoming in many European cities.

Starlightstarbright2 · 29/07/2023 21:24

I work in a small city … there are people walking through main shopping centre either riding or pushing them . I’m

MadamWhiteleigh · 29/07/2023 21:21

It’s not really the scooters that are the problem, it’s that they seem to have been adopted by the young and irresponsible. So they are disproportionately ridden recklessly compared to bikes, say.

PriamFarrl · 29/07/2023 20:46

I’ve never seen a woman or girl on one. It’s only ever boys and men dressed in back with hoods up.

Near me we have a pedestrianised area, rather like a seaside prom. It has pavement cafes are some really large empty areas. People let small children ride bikes, toddlers are out of push chairs, people walking dogs, staff serving the pavement cafes.
There is one person I have seen numerous times riding and electric bike. There are a lot of regular bikes but this one must be going 30mph. If he hit a dog or child they would be killed. Yet he goes along there daily.

Blondebutnotlegally · 29/07/2023 20:36

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 29/07/2023 20:02

34 deaths from 2019 to now on e-scooters.

1558 deaths in cars in 2021 alone.

Think we need to ban cars too.

? Do you see the same number of e scooters on the roads as cars? Those statistics aren't even comparable. I

Original poster
Newandveryconfused · 29/07/2023 20:35

MaxiPadd · 29/07/2023 19:42

It's equally terrifying when you're driving and get a teenager swerve into the road to avoid a pedestrian collision- has happened to me on many occasions and all good if I am far enough away to see and slow but in the dark I could easily not see till too late as they don't tend to stick to high vis clothing or lights

That's the thing.. These "kids" that are on them are dressed head to toe in black, on a black E-scooter, at night... With NO Lights...and let's face it, they are silent! What chance does a driver have when they are swerving in and out of traffic. But it'll be the drivers fault if anything were to happen. 😒😒

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 29/07/2023 20:26

The trial in Brum ended a few months ago because of supplier issues but the amount of escooters is ridiculous despite them only being legal on private land.
I saw a woman riding on with 2 children the other day.

In the city centre people ride them on pavements and then curse if you’re in their way.

A 12 year old boy died after crashing into a bus on one- despite the minimum age being 17 as you had to prove on the app you had a provisional license so an adult hired it for him. It’s mostly young teens riding them using 2 to a scooter risking theirs and others lives.

The police get slammed for confiscating them but they’re doing the right thing.