Parents warned over children's use of illegal e-scooters

Police are urging parents to stop their children riding e-scooters illegally as campaigners say their use is "rampant".

Under the current law, e-scooters can only be legally used on private land and can be seized by police if used in public places.

In a recent incident, two youths – one of whom was not wearing a helmet - were captured riding along a dual carriageway in Aberdeen.

The Scottish and UK governments said action was being taken to tackle the issue.

Police Scotland North East issued the warning to parents as part of Operation Armour, a two-week crackdown on both e-scooters and e-motorbikes.

Sgt Mark Rennie said: "The legislation surrounding e-scooter use exists to protect the public and is especially important because younger children do not yet have the judgement, coordination, or hazard awareness these devices require.

"This isn't about being strict or unfair – it's about understanding the risk."

Parents face a fine or points on their licence if their children ride them illegally.

Young people can also receive penalty points on what's known as a "ghost licence", which are added to any provisional driving licence they might later apply for.

The UK transport charity Collaborative Mobility has called for the creation of more rental e-scooter zones in public places.

They currently only operate in parts of England.

The charity's chief executive Richard Dilks said that in these zones it was clear where the e-scooters could be used, and their top speed and acceleration rates were capped.

He said that outside these zones there was a "rampant scene of illegal use".

"It's effectively unenforceable, which is not to say there shouldn't be crackdowns - it is the current law - but it just doesn't work.

"We've got this wild west of illegally used illegal devices which are used at scale despite them not being legal, and not lawful to use on public highways.

"So it's the worst of all worlds in a way."

He said the contradiction - where is it not illegal to buy or sell an e-scooter, but illegal to use one on a public highway - needed to be resolved.

Saim Shahzad owns an e-bike repair shop in Aberdeen.

He won't sell e-scooters for safety reasons, and actively warns customers against buying them for their children.

"These scooters are going about like 50-60 miles per hour," he said.

"That's highly dangerous because these wheels are small.

"If you see the teenagers, they're not taking the thing seriously. They don't know what they're riding."

He also has concerns around the growing rise in modified e-motorbikes.

Riders have to meet the correct regulations for the vehicles, and the use of modified bikes - fitted with parts to allow them to go faster or become more powerful – is illegal.

John Neil was driving home last year when an e-motorbike rider crashed into the side of his car at speed.

The incident, which took place as he was pulling out safely at a crossroads, has had a lasting effect on the 61-year-old.

"I got out of the car, walked round and there was a young man completely unconscious, lying at the side of the road next to his wrecked e-bike in a pool of blood," he told BBC Scotland News.

"One of the witnesses shouted from the other side of the road: 'You've killed him'."

The man was injured, but after coming round he left the scene on his bike.

John said the man was not wearing a helmet, but had a full face mask and scarf.

"The bike had no plates on it, no indicators, it was completely illegal," he said.

John wants stricter controls on e-motorbikes being imported into the UK, which can then be modified by the buyer.

This includes sharing information about who has bought the bike.

"If the person's information is shared then maybe they will think twice about buying a bike knowing they're going to use it illegally because their name's in the frame."

The Scottish government spokesperson said it understood the concerns around the misuse of e-scooters and e-bikes.

"That is why we have urged the UK government, which holds powers on registration and licensing over off-road vehicles, to take action in this area," said a spokesperson.

"Ministers and officials regularly meet Police Scotland and partners and are committed to supporting them to tackle these issues."

Transport Scotland said the UK government's short window for rental e-scooter trials meant it had not been able to put legislation in place in time.

A spokesperson said: "We are continuing to engage closely with the Department for Transport on their proposed legislation to fully legalise e-scooters and continue to develop the evidence base and policy position on e-scooters in Scotland."

The Department for Transport said it would be consulting on longer-term e-scooter regulations in a consultation in the next year.

A spokesperson added: "In Scotland, trials cannot take place unless devolved legislation is put in place, but we are open to Scottish participation and are working closely with the Scottish government and Transport Scotland on both trials and longer-term legislation."