Carly Calland, whose 14-year-old son Jacob died in an e-scooter crash last March, has teamed up with Greater Manchester Police to warn parents against buying e-scooters and e-bikes for their children this Christmas.
"Please don't buy your kids these e-scooters and e-bikes. They are not worth the thrill," she said. "Christmas is a big time because it's family time. Everyone should be around that family table - everyone should be having Christmas dinner. I have got an empty chair. Parents need to not have empty chairs, and they can prevent that."
Monthly Critical Care Cases
The appeal comes as the NHS in Greater Manchester reported that a child ends up in critical care every month on average due to an e-bike or e-scooter accident. Nearly 1,500 people were injured across England last year, police said, with most being riders but many pedestrians also injured.
Jacob was on the back of an e-scooter on Southmoor Road in Wythenshawe when it collided with a BMW. A 15-year-old boy riding the scooter at the front ran a red light at high speed before the crash. Both boys were thrown into the air, and Jacob sustained a catastrophic brain injury, dying in hospital days later.
Legal and Safety Concerns
The scooter had three speed settings of nine, fifteen, and 28 miles per hour, with the latter called 'Turbo mode' and set at the time of the collision. The boy pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and received an 18-month youth referral order with a five-year driving disqualification.
Carly said Jacob continually asked for an e-scooter or e-bike, but she always refused. "No, the answer was no," she said. "And it's hard, I get it from a parent's point of view how guilty these teenagers can make you feel, but keeping on saying no makes you a really good parent, and potentially saves their lives."
GMP Superintendent Mike Russell explained that e-bikes are legal if they don't exceed 15.5mph, but kits are sold to make them go faster. "It's really tricky for a parent to know what's legal and what is not," he said. "For an e-scooter for example, unless you have permission from a private landowner to use them, they are in essence illegal."
Seizure and Consequences
Russell warned that illegally used e-scooters and e-bikes will be seized. "You are never going to see that machine again - your child will be upset. Money is tight for everyone - and that money is gone," he said. "There are no upsides to buying these machines at all. The message is simple - please do not buy e-bikes and e-scooters. If they are used illegally, they will be seized."
Carly added that retailers and manufacturers 'have to play their part', and said, "These kids need to stop being sheep and take up Jacob's story." She has launched petitions and lobbied Parliament, and noted that 14 people have died since Jacob. "It hurts because they are the people I haven't reached yet," she said. "Fourteen people have died since Jacob, and Jacob only died last March. It is 14 people too many."
GMP stated that many e-bikes are legal and provide sustainable transport, but privately owned e-scooters can only be used on private land with the landowner's permission. Russell added that communities consistently report this issue affects their daily lives, and the force is urging families to understand the legal requirements and consequences of unlawful use, including potential seizure and destruction of vehicles.
