A mother whose 14-year-old son was killed in an e-scooter crash has joined forces with police to urge parents not to buy their children e-scooters or e-bikes this Christmas.
Carly Calland lost her son Jacob in March last year. He was a passenger on an e-scooter along Southmoor Road in Wythenshawe when it collided with a BMW. The 15-year-old boy riding the scooter ran a red light at high speed, throwing both teenagers into the air. Jacob suffered a catastrophic brain injury and died in hospital several days later.
A plea to parents
Making an emotional appeal ahead of Christmas, Carly said: "Please don't buy your kids these e-scooters and e-bikes. They are not worth the thrill. 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."
She added: "Don't buy them - you wouldn't buy your kid a knife to take on the streets, so why buy them something that is illegal? You wouldn't give them your car keys to drive a car. I really can't state it enough to parents."
Carly said Jacob would ask her continually for an e-scooter or an e-bike, but she always refused. She agreed young people view them as 'status symbols'.
"No, the answer was no," she said of Jacob's demands. "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. You wouldn't let your child walk around with a knife in their pocket, so why are you giving them an illegal e-scooter? Just don't do it, it is not worth the pain."
Growing concerns over safety
Carly's plea comes amid growing concerns over the dangers posed by e-bikes and e-scooters. NHS figures for Greater Manchester show that, on average, a child is admitted to critical care every month following an e-bike or e-scooter accident. Police said almost 1,500 people were injured in incidents involving the vehicles across England last year. While most casualties were riders, pedestrians were also among those hurt.
The 15-year-old boy responsible for the crash cannot be named because of his age. He had owned the e-scooter for just two weeks and later told police it had been bought for him by his mum. A court heard it was "a gift that should never have been given". The scooter had three speed settings - nine, 15 and 28mph - with the highest setting, branded 'Turbo mode', activated at the time of the collision.
The teenager admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to an 18-month youth referral order, alongside a five-year driving disqualification.
Police warning
GMP Superintendent Mike Russell said e-bikes are legal as long as they don't go above 15.5mph. But, he said, 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. Our message is two fold - the risks to people using these e-scooters. Secondly, because they are illegal, they are going to 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."
"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."
Supt Russell said the use of e-scooters and the illegal use of e-bikes was 'becoming more prevalent'. He added: "We recognise and are cognisant of what is happening here. What we are trying to achieve this Christmas is there are lots of really well-meaning people saying 'it would be great to give their child a bike'. Please, just don't go down that route. We want to prevent it rather than enforcing the law - or paramedics having to deal with your child or sadly in Carly's situation, having to deal with the consequences of a fatality."
"We will seize these scooters and e-bikes if they are used illegally. The grey area is what is making it difficult, it is not always clear to parents because of the way they are advertised."
Continuing campaign
Carly, who has launched petitions and lobbied Parliament, said the statistics of one child a month injured in Greater Manchester 'hurt my heart'.
"The facts and figures around it are ridiculous," she said. "It hurts because they are the people I haven't reached yet. Fourteen people have died since Jacob, and Jacob only died last March. It is 14 people too many. I feel like if they had seen Jacob's story, would they have made that decision that day? I want to reach as many people as possible. My drive will never give up until the Government decides what they are doing."
Carly said retailers and manufacturers 'have to play their part', but said it was a responsibility for all. She said e-scooters are illegal, unless they are used on private land, but youngsters simply don't adhere to that.
Carly said: "My son is never going to come home. I am never going to see my boy again and I don't want any other parent to go through what I am going through, so I am going to keep pushing until we either ban them or put some regulations in place."
Supt Russell added: "Communities consistently tell us this issue affects their day-to-day life. Illegal and anti-social riding can intimidate residents, place pedestrians at risk and create significant disruption in neighbourhoods. We also know these vehicles are increasingly being used to facilitate wider criminality. We are urging families to understand the legal requirements around these vehicles, where they can be ridden and the consequences of using them unlawfully. These bikes can cost a significant amount of money. If the vehicle is being used illegally and is seized, there is a possibility it may be destroyed, leaving families substantially out of pocket. Our preference is always to educate and prevent rather than enforce, but where vehicles are being used illegally or dangerously, we will take robust action."
