'E-scooters...the silent terror that is another threat to pedestrians and road users'

The governmental lobby to fast-track legislation of new road laws, to get e-scooters on UK streets has got to work again.

It will be presented as a revolutionary urban innovation, and the alternative, transport method of the future. When passed it will be a nationwide roll out.

The bulk of UK highways are designed for car, bicycle and pedestrian binary. Therefore, in terms of the e-scooter there is little space to ride.

I would image modification of highway safety measures for such a dangerous vehicle, would be extremely costly and difficult to achieve.

A little while ago, I saw for myself, how easy it is for an e-scooter to malfunction in the blink of an eye, causing accidental injury to user and damage to the vehicle.

How can there be any proper health benefit or exercise value using one?

And I question that the installed limiters, set at 12.5 mph, can easily be overcome for extra speed.

The simple criteria to ride an e-scooter legally on a public highway are a minimal age of 16 years and a holder of a valid, provisional or full driving licence.

Trials have already been allowed in Derby, Nottingham, Portsmouth and Southampton and by accounts all cities have regretted doing it. The local authorities report that pavements have become as dangerous as the roads, they are an attack to proper cyclists by cluttering up the already less-than-adequate-cycle lanes and, being deadly quiet, pose a particular danger to pedestrians and road users.

Another silent terror to cope with.

Rosemary Twelftree

By email