The mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, wants to establish the UK’s first e-scooter rental scheme as Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has changed the legal status of e-scooters which are currently banned on roads and pavements in the UK.
The change of law means that e-scooters will now be permitted for use on roads, cycle lanes, and tracks and will be trialled in Middlesbrough.
Prior to, and during the lockdown period, the Government has been promoting more sustainable uses of transport as a cleaner, greener way to get people back to work, whilst still observing social distancing measures. This includes walking, cycling, and now e-scooters.
Funding for the scheme has already been allocated to the Tees Valley Combined Authority to be spent on various local council transport schemes.
As lockdown measures are starting to ease, more and more people are on the road, including people commuting to work, or people walking or cycling for leisure or commuting. The introduction of the e-scooter on UK roads will be positive for the environment but will increase the number of vulnerable road users each day, making the chances of accidents increasingly high.
Now more than ever it is important to be vigilant on the roads and ensure your safety is at the top of your priority list when travelling to and from places.
Cyclists and pedestrians are much more likely to suffer serious injuries due to the lack of protection around them, than people who are protected by their vehicles. Meaning cyclists and pedestrians are much more likely to suffer more serious injuries in the event of an accident.
Though the scheme is a positive way of getting people active and back to work via healthier means than driving or using public transport, it is important to note that the safety of the people of Teesside must come first.
Unfortunately, accidents on our roads are far too common, and in 2018, the latest statistics to be released, there were 1,784 reported road deaths, and thousands of more accidents which resulted in serious injury.
Rebecca Montague, personal injury solicitor at Macks Solicitors says “Although I am pleased that e-scooters may have a positive effect on the environment I am also a little concerned about their safety. Users may be very vulnerable, particularly if they are not wearing a safety helmet. They may be on roads at busy times of the day with car users who are unaware that they are now sharing the road with them.”
If you do find yourself to be injured as a result of a road accident, Macks Solicitors can help. We have a team of specialist personal injury solicitors who are dedicated to getting compensation for people who have been injured due to events out of their control.
If you would like to speak to a member of the team, contact us on 01642 252828 or visit our website www.mackssolicitors.co.uk for more information. Our phone lines are open from 8 am to 9 pm every day.
