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Original poster

Electric scooter kid went flying after hitting my car door

306 replies

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:06

I was just about to get out of my car - door opening onto the pavement - this afternoon, not dark by any stretch of the imagination, although the car door does have a light that stays on even when ignition off.
I had seen a girl (I think I know her, she's 8 or 9) go zooming past "up" the road - wearing black, on her no-doubt Christmas present, large electric scooter.
I pushed the door open, not fully, an was about to get out when I heard a skidding sound and she hit the car door and went flying onto the ground.
When I look afterwards, the tyre marks were about 2/3 of the way across the pavement, closer to my car. Had the door been fully opened, it would have been badly damaged, I think - or she might have been.
She rolled on the ground but didn't hit her head (no helmet) and seemed to want to check her scooter thoroughly herself.

I didn't say sorry - more like "Oh God!" - and checked she was OK, briefly saying that she was very difficult to see, but that's all, even though I think a whole lot more.
This will no doubt come back to me as "she was knocked off her scooter by that woman up the road" etc - but AIBU to think it was her own fault, even allowing for the fact she is a young child?

OP posts:
Sunshine1500 · 26/12/2024 19:05

Poor girl, I think I’d go check she was okay.

Miloarmadillo2 · 26/12/2024 19:03

The parents could be prosecuted for allowing the child to ride one on public road or pavement, riding without a licence (have to have a driving licence to ride the legal ones) and without insurance. So if there is any comeback from idiot parents I’d report it to the police and let them deal with it. In fact since it’s an accident involving your vehicle maybe you should be reporting it anyway?

Tiswa · 26/12/2024 19:00

Iwanttoliveonamountain · 26/12/2024 18:40

Well, she hit a child with her car door, so she clearly wasn’t paying attention.

i nearly did this to a grown man - the problem is you look and check that no one is coming at walking speed given it is a pavement and then open the door - electric scooters are so fast that they appear very quickly

so I look no one near paused to pick up my bag and in that time he had appeared - I was getting out of the passenger seat as well

they are illegal in public spaces because unsafe on roads and pavements

you should not have to allow for such speed on a pavement (road obviously v different)

OneTC · 26/12/2024 19:00

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:49

Maybe I should have - but at the time, I might have gone off a bit - and it wouldn't have been good.
She seemed to want to get away from me.
I really don't want to be responsible for her though, given previous things that have happened.

My dash cam is supposed to record impacts even when the key is out; I might check - as now I am worried about the Police.

(Had something "similar" happen with cyclists a few years ago - and even though I reported it to the Police, they still showed up a week later....)

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So you've done it before?

Maybe it's time for some more advanced driving courses and further meaningless in this scenario qualifications.

Original poster
LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:59

@Ineedaholidayyyy Thank you.

I remember when Electric Bikes first came out - and there were many incidents when drivers were pulling out of junctions, thinking the oncoming cyclist was some distance away, only for there to be a collision, as the distance was closed far more quickly than expected.
(Cyclists somewhat to "blame" though - it takes co-operation on all sides.)

OP posts:
OneTC · 26/12/2024 18:57

TheirLastRolo · 26/12/2024 18:39

At no point was there any indication that the OP wasn't paying attention.

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Aside from dooring a kid?

Marblesbackagain · 26/12/2024 18:56

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:51

Oh right, well, I check everywhere I can when I set off driving (very necessary here), and check the absolute best I can when getting out of the car, as I am opening onto the pavement and very aware. Should I really have to take account of something coming along/appearing at that speed, in almost camouflage and ridden by someone without any kind of "road" knowledge?

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Yes! A toddler could run out or be on scooter. Of course you do, didn't this used to be part of the driving lessons. It was in Ireland 30 odd years ago and there's faster items I. The footpaths now.

Cartwrightandson · 26/12/2024 18:56

Ineedaholidayyyy · 26/12/2024 18:54

I hate those things, they are so dangerous and banned in many places, and rightly so. Plus I think they are actually illegal on pavements too?

The parents are irresponsible for buying it and letting the 8 year old have free reign on it ( and without a helmet?) for this very reason. It could have ended much worse, but thankfully it wasnt. Definitely not you at fault OP, those things are so fast, so even If you saw her, you can easily misjudge how fast she was actually going.

E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.
As it's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces such as parks, street pavements and shopping centres.
It is only legal to use e-scooters on private land such as your garden, but you must have permission from the landowners.
Insp Jack Stabler from the Road Policing Unit said: “Whilst we understand why people may want to buy them for Christmas it’s important you are aware of the laws and that you comply.
“If anyone is found to be riding an e-scooter on a public road or footpath the e-scooter could be seized, your present lost and you will be reported for offences
“These aren’t toys and can cause serious injury to riders or other path or road users if ridden irresponsibly.”
If anyone is found to be riding an e-scooter on a public road or footpath the e-scooter could be seized, your present lost and you will be reported for offences.

Original poster
LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:56

Ablondiebutagoody · 26/12/2024 18:54

Clearly the answer to that is yes, you should!

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On the pavement?

Although in fact, I thought I had...,. I'm not Clark Kent.

OP posts:
Original poster
LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:55

@Littletreefrog And yet, YOU should not have had to move. But when you say anything, it just gets worse.

OP posts:
Ineedaholidayyyy · 26/12/2024 18:54

I hate those things, they are so dangerous and banned in many places, and rightly so. Plus I think they are actually illegal on pavements too?

The parents are irresponsible for buying it and letting the 8 year old have free reign on it ( and without a helmet?) for this very reason. It could have ended much worse, but thankfully it wasnt. Definitely not you at fault OP, those things are so fast, so even If you saw her, you can easily misjudge how fast she was actually going.

Ablondiebutagoody · 26/12/2024 18:54

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:51

Oh right, well, I check everywhere I can when I set off driving (very necessary here), and check the absolute best I can when getting out of the car, as I am opening onto the pavement and very aware. Should I really have to take account of something coming along/appearing at that speed, in almost camouflage and ridden by someone without any kind of "road" knowledge?

Show quote history

Clearly the answer to that is yes, you should!

Original poster
LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:53

berksandbeyond · 26/12/2024 18:49

@Upstartled when a family lets their 8 year old ride an illegal e scooter down a pavement without even a helmet, I know everything I need to know about the kind of people they are

I think that they think (as do the kids themselves) that they are invincible!
They act as though nothing they do is wrong, or unsafe, or inconsiderate or even totally dangerous - to them, and to others.

OP posts:
UndermyShoeJoe · 26/12/2024 18:52

Well that’s it isn’t it. When you open a car door on to the pavement you are looking for pedestrians. Not cyclists or scooters riders. This walking. Op saw no walkers in her immediate area so she opened the door.

Original poster
LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:51

Ablondiebutagoody · 26/12/2024 18:47

You should do the Dutch reach when you open the door. That's the point of it rather than for setting off.

Show quote history

Oh right, well, I check everywhere I can when I set off driving (very necessary here), and check the absolute best I can when getting out of the car, as I am opening onto the pavement and very aware. Should I really have to take account of something coming along/appearing at that speed, in almost camouflage and ridden by someone without any kind of "road" knowledge?

OP posts:
Littletreefrog · 26/12/2024 18:51

We had to dive out of the way of a group of 3 people riding these on the pavement last night while we were walking the dog. They were all dressed in all black and no lights or helmet and going really fast The one at the front was Mum followed by two 8 or 9 ish year old boys. She said "sorry" as they zoomed past. I said "you will be when they get hurt" not as under my breath as I had thought to which I got a load of verbal abuse.

berksandbeyond · 26/12/2024 18:49

@Upstartled when a family lets their 8 year old ride an illegal e scooter down a pavement without even a helmet, I know everything I need to know about the kind of people they are

Original poster
LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:49

TheWonderhorse · 26/12/2024 18:44

The incident probably isn't your fault. But 8/9 year old kids are not mature enough to give a balanced account to their parents. Especially if they think they might get in trouble. I really think you should have taken her home to explain your side of the story, because if the kid says something vague like I was hit by a car then there'll be a visit from the police coming.

Maybe I should have - but at the time, I might have gone off a bit - and it wouldn't have been good.
She seemed to want to get away from me.
I really don't want to be responsible for her though, given previous things that have happened.

My dash cam is supposed to record impacts even when the key is out; I might check - as now I am worried about the Police.

(Had something "similar" happen with cyclists a few years ago - and even though I reported it to the Police, they still showed up a week later....)

OP posts:
Marblesbackagain · 26/12/2024 18:48

Surely if you are opening the door and getting out you are looking out behind the door? I do.

You were lucky she wasn't seriously injured. No she shouldn't be speeding along but that would be very poor consolation.

The Darwin commentator about a child is disgusting!

Ablondiebutagoody · 26/12/2024 18:47

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:18

I do - I also do the Dutch (?) check when setting off. And I am checking , on the footpath, for people walking, dogs, disability scooters and similar. Any of those could have moved across even if I did continue to open the door, which I wouldn't, unless I genuinely had not seen them. She was going too bloody fast, that between me looking in the mirror and then opening the door, there she was! (As I said, wearing her no doubt new trendy black Christmas outfit, with no lights on the scooter at all.)

Edited
Show quote history

You should do the Dutch reach when you open the door. That's the point of it rather than for setting off.

Upstartled · 26/12/2024 18:44

berksandbeyond · 26/12/2024 18:41

One less NED on the streets if she was injured tbh. F around and find out

Nice way to refer to an 8 yo girl who fell off her scooter.

TheWonderhorse · 26/12/2024 18:44

The incident probably isn't your fault. But 8/9 year old kids are not mature enough to give a balanced account to their parents. Especially if they think they might get in trouble. I really think you should have taken her home to explain your side of the story, because if the kid says something vague like I was hit by a car then there'll be a visit from the police coming.

TheirLastRolo · 26/12/2024 18:43

Iwanttoliveonamountain · 26/12/2024 18:40

Well, she hit a child with her car door, so she clearly wasn’t paying attention.

The child wasn't hit by the door the child crashed into the open door. it's not like she deliberately opened it intending to hit the child. Given how fast electric scooters can go the child could have been a good distance away before the OP opened her door and she couldn't slow down quick enough to stop.

Cartwrightandson · 26/12/2024 18:43

E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.

As it's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces such as parks, street pavements and shopping centres.

It is only legal to use e-scooters on private land such as your garden, but you must have permission from the landowners.

Insp Jack Stabler from the Road Policing Unit said: “Whilst we understand why people may want to buy them for Christmas it’s important you are aware of the laws and that you comply.

“If anyone is found to be riding an e-scooter on a public road or footpath the e-scooter could be seized, your present lost and you will be reported for offences

“These aren’t toys and can cause serious injury to riders or other path or road users if ridden irresponsibly.”

If anyone is found to be riding an e-scooter on a public road or footpath the e-scooter could be seized, your present lost and you will be reported for offences.

MintShaker · 26/12/2024 18:42

Current Title Electric scooter kid went flying after hitting my car door

Should be Electric scooter kid went flying after I opened my car door without looking properly and she crashed into it.

You're welcome 🙄