E-scooters need to be fully banned, and I learned an important lesson first-hand. While e-scooters are mostly banned on public roads in the UK, the restrictions aren't nearly as strict as they need to be. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way.
My Personal Accident
Back in 2021, when I was 25, I enjoyed a weekend away with my fiancé. We booked a trip to Liverpool, where I went to university. We spent the day on e-scooters around Sefton Park. It was a fun way to take in the city – until things took a turn for the worse. We decided to hire e-scooters again in the evening. Long story short, we were passing through a semi-pedestrian area around Liverpool One when my scooter suddenly sped up to excessive speed, and I came tumbling off.
Thankfully, I walked away with only a bruised ego, a sore body, and a cracked screen protector on my phone. But this made me think about just how much worse my evening could have ended. The scooters allow you to reach speeds of up to 15.5mph. This may not sound very fast, but when you're travelling with just your body, no protection, and no helmet, it can be catastrophic.
E-scooters, the Law and Public Opinion
The UK operates under a strict two-tier legal system for electric scooters. Privately owned e-scooters are illegal to ride on any public road, pavement, or cycle lane, while government-approved rental e-scooters can be ridden legally on public roads and cycle lanes within designated trial zones. However, I'm not the only person to think these rules need to be tightened. A recent survey by Tiger.co.uk found that 61% of Britons think e-bikes and e-scooters are too dangerous. Meanwhile, 44% say they should be banned altogether.
According to the Department of Transport, there were 1,312 collisions involving e-scooters in 2024. There were 1,390 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters. There were six deaths in the same year, which went up to ten in 2025, according to The Guardian. These figures are startling – but I genuinely don't believe most people understand the danger e-scooters can pose, especially on roads. It's potentially enormous for both riders and pedestrians.
Real-Life Tragedies
I watched a video of a woman on TikTok, KB, who fared a lot worse than I did when she came off an e-scooter, suffering with serious injuries. Someone left a comment on her video, saying: "Holy s***. I’m so thankful you are alive and okay. I’m so terrified of those [e-scooters] now since working in the hospital." And it breaks my heart to think of Jacob Calland, a 14-year-old who was riding on the back of an e-scooter his friend was driving in Wythenshawe, when they collided with a car. He tragically suffered irreversible brain injuries and subsequently lost his life in 2025.
His mum, Carly Calland, set up Jacob's Journey to educate parents and young people about the dangers of using illegal e-scooters on public roads. The campaign has partnered with the Greater Manchester Police to share Jacob's story, aiming to prevent other children from making the same split-second decision. Part of Carly's petition includes a law mandating the use of helmets and other safety equipment, and I couldn't agree more.
Call for Stricter Regulations
I know a total ban is probably not feasible, though it's something I would back. At the very least, mandatory helmets should be required. Carly also wants to introduce licensing and insurance schemes, treating e-scooters like motor vehicles, and to prohibit two people from riding on one e-scooter. Until the rules are tightened, I sadly believe more accidents will occur. So before you hop on an e-scooter, make sure you properly consider the risks and follow all relevant guidance. For more information, visit the government website.
