Decision details

The Council

·        is concerned about the number of children and young people riding e-scooters on pavements and public roads;

·        believes that this endangers the safety of those who use them and the safety of pedestrians, especially those with visual impairments;

·        states that e-scooters fall within the legal definition of 'motor vehicle'. As a result, they are subject to the same requirements as are required for other motor vehicles, such as licensing and insuring them and the need to have a driver's licence for use on public roads. As a result, they cannot be lawfully used except on private land with the landowner's consent;

·        notes that e-scooters are being trialled by the UK government and are allowed on roads within some areas but none of these are within Gwynedd;

·        believes that many parents and young people do not realise that the use of e-scooters on public roads is illegal and that the police can confiscate the e-scooter and file a traffic offence report of 'driving a motor vehicle without third party insurance', resulting in a fine of £300 and 6 points on the driver's driving licence.

To address this problem, the Council is calling on the Welsh Government and UK Government to consider what action they could take/what regulations they could introduce, to tackle the problem.