To be slightly alarmed about this scooter

[Dreamstate]

I was put driving in South London, doing emphasis and there was a teenager on an electric scooter in the middle of the road riding at what I can only assume is emphasis because despite being at 30mph I wasn't even gaining on him .

What the Heck! Since when did scooters become so fast?

Not to mention he had a bit of a wobble as he turned to check behind him and I genuinely thought he was going to come off.

Obviously I was careful leaving plenty of distance but wow...at that speed, zero protection on the road, weaving in and around cars. Thats an accident to waiting to happen.

Did the law chnage and I missed it as I thought they were illegal

I can’t understand why electric scooters are allowed on the roads. No indicators, you have no clue where they are going on roundabouts etc. I had an encounter with two this morning. At least they had helmets on, usually they don’t.

They're a menace on the pavements as well.

Yep, shouldn’t be on pavements or roads. Cycle lanes at a push.

What’s ‘doing emphasis” ?!

They are illegal. Only the speed limited private hire ones are currently allowed (which you need a full driving licence to use).

Two deaths so far. Not to mention all the near misses.

I saw a dad flying along with his child on the front on the road.
It’s madness and the police don’t seem to stand a chance to enforce it.
I really can see the environmental aspect, however they are damn right dangerous

Well if you’re all doing that many emphasises then what can you expect.

What's doing emphasis mean? I've not heard that expression before.

I also would like to know what that means.

I find it so strange that these are becoming a common sight. On the roads and on the pavements. Fast moving, dangerous for other road users and for pedestrians. I've seen adults taking kids to school on them. Teenagers, middle aged riders, all ages whoosing past. It annoys the heck out of me. I still kind of want one though. I do think they need to be banned.

They're a fucking menace. Well publicised but a kid was killed on one last week nearby and I'm nit surprised. We have dicks doing the school run on them with tiny kids, no helmets.

They are everywhere here (also south London). I'm annoyed when they whizz past my little kids on the pavement and terrified (for the riders) when I see them on the road. In principle, I get it but... I'm not sure there is a safe place for them.
YANBU.

@user1473878824

Well if you’re all doing that many emphasises then what can you expect.

Emphasis = speed limit? But how would it auto correct to that?

I don’t think electric scooters are dangerous if they are ridden properly. The danger comes from idiotic use. Scooters have brakes and don’t have to be ridden at break neck speeds. 🤷🏻‍♀️
I don’t ride an electric scooter as I’d be nervous of getting points on my licence but if they were made legal to use I’d get one.

Emphasis?

They're illegal, as far as riding on the road and pavements are concerned. The only place you can ride them is private land.

The danger comes from the fact that they are usually ridden to fast, without care, and there is no protection for the user if they should crash.

The Metropolitan police have regular occasions where they do a sweep through London and confiscate as many as possible, but it's a limitless task sadly.

Yes private scooters are still illegal unless being used on private land. Police confiscate them often where I live because people don't realise it's illegal to use them on public land. Confusingly local sustainable transport schemes such as Tier have been given licence to trial these on a rental scheme like Boris bikes. From what I read countries where they have been used for a long time are coming to the consensus that they are generally a bit of a menace. They can work quite well in big US cities with wide streets such as LA but on the whole it doesn't really work in European city's which are often old medieval .

My friend's teen son broke his right elbow and his left wrist from one accident. They're bloody dangerous for those who don't recognise how powerful they are.

Think of how many people die from cycling or driving in RTA’s every year. A few scooter deaths is nothing! Most people ride them responsibly and they’re great for the environment.
Certain people always try to ban any fun in life.

They're supposedly illegal and deadly and constantly seized but I went to Liverpool and they're layed about everywhere to hire and whizz about on.
They can't be great and used as investment scheme in one city but a deadly weapon in the next zone. Pick a side!!!

I don’t buy the environment argument. A lot of people who use the scheme in the city where I work used to walk to work…
Yep, American beach town with lots of space = fun. Weaving through traffic, not fun for drivers.

They're all over Bristol & it's a nightmare avoiding them. No helmets & poor lighting on the back.

Emphasis?

I'm only here to find out what emphasis is supposed to be! Could it be NSL using voice to text?