Concerns raised over dangers e-scooters pose in Laois

IT’S almost a year on since regulations were introduced for those riding electric scooters. However not everybody is adhering to the rules and now a Portlaoise based councillor wants the Department of Transport to review the regulations with a view of tightening up the regulations.

The dangers e-scooters pose, particularly to pedestrians, was raised at the April meeting of Laois County Council.

In a motion cllr Tommy Mulligan proposed that Laois County Council write to the Department of Transport, “requesting that they review the laws for electric scooters with a view of improving road safety.” 

He said: “I don’t think the regulations that were introduced last May went far enough. They’re still a huge risk on the roads among motorists by the behavior of some of these who ride e-scooters.

“I’ve had taxi drivers on to me from around the county who have concerns about these e-scooters riders and the dangers they pose. A friend of mine who was at a pedestrian crossing and just about to cross, a scooter shot across and clipped her.” 

He said: “Scooters need to have lights on front and back, especially when travelling in the dark. Cars and bicycles have to have lights front and back. I can’t understand who scooters can’t. I think it’s madness that they don’t. They are a death trap if not visible. Anyone riding a scooter needs to be visible. A lot of people on these scooters wear dark clothing. They need to wear a hi-vis, which is not the case at the moment. They should also be obliged to wear a helmet.” 

Cllr Mulligan pointed out that in 2022, two people died as a result of accidents from e-scooters. In 2023 three people died, while last year four people died in e-scooter related accidents, “and on top of that hundreds of serious injures over the past few years.” 

He said: “There’s gong to be a fatality in the county if not a very serious injury in the near future, that is why I believe more stricter regulations need to be introduced.” 

Agreeing with the motion, cllr Marie Tuohy said that she had such a motion in December 2023 asking people to consider carefully before purchasing e-scooters for their children at Christmas.

She said: “Children riding e-scooters are a very visible problem particularly along the Stradbally Road going to and from the schools. While the regulations may have reduced the problems, I don’t think that they have been resolved. When the new laws came in they were helpful. But it’s still frightening the speed of some of them. The monitoring of their use and the regulations around them needs to be upped.” Also supporting the motion cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said: “Anyone under the age of 16 are not allowed to be on e-scooters. Everyone using them are meant to wear a helmet. If they’re caught not wearing one they can be fined up to €125. They not supposed to have passengers on them either.

“But where the regulations have completely fallen down, is there’s no enforcement of them. That’s the reality. You can bring in all the rules, legislation or guidelines you want, but if nobody is monitoring them, that’s the problem, then they are useless. We need to find out who is responsible for monitoring and the enforcement of the legislation.” 

Cllr John Joe Fennelly said: “It’s just not one person you see on these scooters. I passed one the other day with three people on it. Something will happen. There will be a very serious accident.” 

Cathaoirleach of the council cllr Pádraig Fleming said: “They are dangerous. You meet them everywhere, the speed they’re going at and their nearly always dressed in black.”