They are increasingly seen on wish lists but privately-owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads, pavements or other public spaces
Police have launched a Christmas campaign about e-scooters (stock photo)(Image: Getty Images)
Humberside Police are launching a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers and legality of e-scooters ahead of the Christmas period. The force says e-scooters are increasingly seen on festive wish lists with children as young as 12 potentially receiving them as gifts.
“While they are often perceived as toys, e-scooters are subject to strict legal restrictions, and their use can carry significant safety risks if people are unaware of the rules,” said a Humberside Police spokesperson.
Privately-owned e-scooters cannot be used on public roads, pavements, or other public spaces under current UK law. They can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission and riders need a valid UK driving licence to use them legally where permitted.
The ‘Is It Wheely Worth it?’ campaign was developed in partnership with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and includes a video meant to explain e-scooter laws and encourage others to understand them before considering one as a Christmas gift.
Just this year, a 14 year old boy was killed while riding an e-scooter in Lincolnshire when he collided with a Ford Transit van in September. Lincolnshire County Council agreed to take action at its latest full council meeting, but said it was a national issue which the government should act on.
Following the tragedy, it was agreed that the executive for education, Councillor Natalie Oliver, would write to all headteachers in the county “to remind them of the devastating impact these devices can have on people’s lives”.
She said: “It’s not just a school’s responsibility, it’s also Lincolnshire Police and the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership. We all need to work together. This is a national issue, the government should do more. They are illegal on the road, yet they’re being sold in places like Currys and other outlets.”
According to a government factsheet, there were 1,377 collisions involving e-scooters last year, an increase from 1,312 in 2024. Ten e-scooter users were killed in these collisions with 1,152 being seriously or slightly injured.
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here.