Dear Headteacher
We write to draw your attention to the matter of electric scooters (e-scooters).
There continues to be an increasing number of individuals riding e-scooters on the public highway, pavements and in public open spaces.
E-Scooters are classed as motor vehicles and are required to be taxed and insured. It is not possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, which means it is illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as pavements.
We understand many parents/carers may wish to purchase an e-scooter or perhaps already have, so therefore we urge you to disseminate the following information throughout your school community.
Enforcement
The police are obliged to take action against anyone who is caught repeatedly using an e-scooter illegally or in a way that causes a nuisance to others. In these circumstances, the police have the power to seize the e-scooter under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act/165 of the Road Traffic Act.
You risk a £300 fine, six penalty points endorsed on your driving licence and the E-Scooter being seized. If you do not currently hold a driving licence at the time of the offence, you may be prosecuted and may have to go to court, whereby the fine can increase and your ability to obtain a driving licence in the future may be affected. If you purchase an E-Scooter, it can only be used on private land with the landowner’s consent.
Fire Safety
Kent Fire and Rescue Service have issued a safety warning on the use of lithium-ion batteries following several battery related fires across the county. Lithium-ion batteries, or li-ion batteries (sometimes called LIBs) are commonly found in many items including mobile phones, laptops, e bikes, hover boards and e-scooters.
Firefighters are urging the public to take care when storing and using these types of batteries, and to think twice before purchasing items from non-reputable suppliers. You can find out more about this via KFRS website here: KFRS issues battery safety warning | Kent Fire and Rescue Service (fire uk.org)
Additional information
For further detailed information regarding e-scooters please visit GOV.UK:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/powered-transporters/information-sheet-guidance-on powered-transporters
The Government is currently trialling the use of approved rental e-scooters as environmentally friendly modes of transport in some specific locations in the UK (find out more
here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users).
There are no e-scooter trials within Kent or Medway.
Only approved rental e-scooters may be used in the Government-led trial areas, in line with specific terms of use. For the rest of the country, under current law, e-scooters can only be used on private land.
Yours Sincerely,
The Road Safety Team | Medway Council
