LONDON: Britain should place stringent regulations on electric scooters if their legal use is widened beyond current government trials, given the number of injuries from illegal vehicles and fire risks from their batteries, insurers said on Thursday .
But privately owned e-scooters are already a familiar sight on city streets, even though their use is illegal outside private land with the landowner's permission. "Illegal use of e-scooters currently presents a significant risk to riders, pedestrians, and other road users," said Chris Jones, the International Underwriting Association's director of legal and market services.
Four insurance trade bodies called in a letter to transport minister Grant Shapps for clear standards on e-scooter construction and safety equipment, including on batteries, charging, brakes and lighting, and on whether protective equipment is required.