Dashcam footage has captured the moment a man riding an electric scooter crossed multiple lanes of traffic on the M8 Kingston Bridge in Glasgow city centre. The incident took place on Monday, October 19, at around 6.50pm.
Rider seen on busy motorway
In the video, the rider, wearing a parka jacket and no protective gear or helmet, can be seen whizzing across lanes towards the Junction 20 cut-off towards East Kilbride and Glasgow City Centre South. It appears he may have come westbound on the stretch of motorway that travels through Charing Cross.
The Kingston Bridge has a speed limit of 50mph. Police Scotland has been approached for comment.
Legal status of e-scooters in Scotland
Privately owned e-scooters are illegal to use on all public roads, pavements, cycle paths, parks, and public spaces in Scotland. They can only be ridden on private land with the owner's consent.
In February this year, it was reported that over 700 illegally ridden electric bikes and scooters had been seized in a nationwide police crackdown last year. A total of 709 e-bikes and scooters were confiscated in 2025 – up by 660 on 2023, when 49 were impounded.
Police crackdown on illegal e-bikes and scooters
Data shows Police Scotland seized 469 dangerous e-bikes and 240 scooters. Chief Inspector Greg Dinnie said: “Officers continue to respond to incidents where illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters are seen or reported by members of the public on the roads or other public places.
“It is not only illegal to use e-scooters and certain types of e-bikes on the roads, but also dangerous – with several people having suffered significant injury falling from these machines or having been struck whilst riding illegally on roads.
“Officers will continue to stop and seize illegally used e-bikes and e-scooters, and we would urge the public to only use those designed and intended for use on the road and stop placing themselves and others in danger.”
Safety concerns and rising accidents
E-scooters have become a common sight across Scotland – with hundreds of unregulated riders flouting the law amid safety concerns. Seized e-bikes have been found to be capable of up to 70mph – far above the 15.5mph legal limit. Many of these modified bikes lack proper brakes for such high speeds, leading police to brand them “deathtraps”.
The clampdown came amid rising numbers of accidents and serious injuries to riders and other road users. Since 2020, e-bike accidents in Scotland have risen, with 34 recorded incidents, including 15 serious injuries and one fatality.
Data shows a shocking 600 per cent surge in the number of kids aged seven to 15 attending A&E in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area due to e-bike and e-scooter incidents between last May and October. Many suffered severe trauma, including brain injuries and broken bones.
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said the use of e-bikes and e-scooters has “become increasingly prevalent over the past decade”, driven by the rise in food delivery apps. She previously said: “This technology has its benefits. However, we also must be aware of the potential downsides, and this includes any anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.”
