A Mother's Grief Fuels National Campaign Against E-Scooter Dangers
A heartbroken mother has launched an emotional campaign for stricter e-scooter regulations after sharing devastating photographs from the scene of her 14-year-old son's fatal accident. Carly Calland's powerful plea comes as parliamentary advisors warn that Britain faces a growing crisis with privately-owned electric scooters, with new data revealing alarming increases in collisions and casualties.
Jacob's Tragic Story: A Preventable Loss
Jacob Calland, described by friends as a 'bright, loving young boy', died on March 27th, 2025, eight days after suffering severe head injuries in an e-scooter collision. The 14-year-old had been riding as a passenger without a helmet through a busy junction in Wythenshawe, Manchester, when the tragic incident occurred. After receiving her son's clothing back from police in January, Ms Calland made the difficult decision to share images showing paramedics treating Jacob at the scene.
'These photos bring home the reality and seriousness of what happened,' she wrote. 'This is the result of Jacob's split second decision to jump on the back of that e-scooter. Please show these photos to your family, friends and children. I don't want it to happen to you or someone you love.'
Mounting Evidence of a National Crisis
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) has submitted a concerning new report to MPs, highlighting what it describes as 'a lack of public understanding, irresponsible retail sales and dangerous use' leading to serious injuries and deaths. Their findings reveal:
- An estimated one million privately-owned e-scooters on UK roads, despite being illegal for public use
- Nine out of ten e-scooters sold unlawfully, according to recent inspections
- 1,312 collisions involving e-scooters in 2024, with 1,390 casualties
- Children aged 10-19 represent the most affected age group, with 302 casualties last year
Margaret Winchcomb of PACTS has called for 'long-promised legislation' to tackle what she describes as 'the irresponsible sales of illegal vehicles to children'.
Government Response and Proposed Measures
While the Department for Transport states it is committed to 'pursuing legislation to regulate e-scooters as soon as possible', campaigners argue that progress has been dangerously slow. The government's extended trial scheme, originally launched in 2020, has been prolonged five times and now runs until May 2028.
Proposed measures under consideration include:
- Mandatory licence plates for e-scooters
- Basic competency tests for riders
- Compulsory insurance requirements
- Minimum age restrictions, potentially set at 14
- Speed limitations enforced at manufacturing level
- Banning passengers on e-scooters
Transport charity PACTS has recommended even stricter controls, suggesting a complete ban on sales to under-18s and mandatory helmet use.
Broader Safety Concerns and Additional Cases
The campaign for reform gains urgency from multiple concerning incidents across the country. In April 2024, 67-year-old grandmother Shirley Smith suffered severe bruising and ongoing back pain after being knocked down by an e-scooter rider in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Meanwhile, medical professionals report increasing numbers of serious injuries in hospital emergency departments.
Dr Charlotte Durand, a consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, warned: 'Most families remain in the dark about e-scooter laws and dangers. Engagement with children and their families is vital as well as clear public health messaging.'
Retail Responsibility and Enforcement Challenges
New figures reveal widespread non-compliance in the e-scooter retail sector. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency inspections found 42 out of 47 retailers selling devices either illegally or without proper guidance about legal restrictions in the year to April. Transport minister Simon Lightwood attributed this to 'poor levels of compliance being found in the online marketplace'.
AA president Edmund King commented: 'Either that message is misunderstood, or thousands of people are openly breaking the law. The sooner legislation is introduced governing the safe design, top speeds and use of e-scooters the better.'
A Mother's Determination for Change
Carly Calland, who has established the 'Jacob's Journey' campaign and released an educational video called 'Life Over Death', remains determined to prevent other families experiencing similar tragedy. She told the Daily Mail: 'I'm not going to stop campaigning. The government say they'll make changes - I won't allow them not to. It won't be worth their while ignoring me.'
Her calls for better regulation include legalisation as a step toward control, mandatory helmet wearing, and banning passengers. 'We didn't want to be in this position but the Government's not been clear enough on what's right and wrong,' she said. 'There's not enough information being shared with families - and not enough regulation.'
As Britain's e-scooter numbers continue to grow despite their illegal status, campaigners argue that comprehensive legislation cannot come soon enough to address what has become a significant public safety concern affecting communities nationwide.
