A 15-year-old boy has been given six points on a driving licence he doesn't yet have after he was caught speeding on an electric scooter. Photo / 123rf
A 15-year-old boy has been given six points on a driving licence he doesn't yet have after he was caught speeding on an electric scooter. Photo / 123rf
A 15-year-old boy has been given demerit points on a driving licence he doesn't yet have after he was caught speeding on an electric scooter.
The teen appeared at Teesside Magistrates' youth court in the UK after being caught at what police have described as "high speeds".
It is not known how fast he was going at the time but e-scooters can travel at speeds of up to 64km/h.
Cleveland Police released details of the schoolboy's escapades saying: "One male juvenile aged 15 has recently been caught by officers riding a scooter at high speeds.
"He appeared in court in October and has been given 6 points which will be added to his driver's licence when he is able to have one."
In the UK you can be disqualified from driving after picking up 12 or more penalty points in a period of three years.
While e-scooters have blown up in popularity around the world, in the UK it is illegal to ride them on roads, cycle paths and footpaths and they are only to be used on authorised or private land.
"These scooters are not toys, and not only can they be extremely dangerous but they are also not legal to ride on pavements and roads and I think many parents aren't aware of this," Constable Mike Doherty said.
"Under the Road Traffic Act we can report the individual rider for not having insurance, a licence, a number plate, helmet and MOT for the scooter."
In New Zealand, nearly 150 ACC claims for injuries caused by e-scooters have been lodged in the month since Lime e-scooters launched in Auckland and Christchurch.
Photo / NZ Herald
The injury list included more than four claims for brain injuries or concussions, 24 for broken bones and 49 for lacerations or punctures, according to the latest ACC data of claims for no-fault accident compensation.
The bulk of injuries occurred in Auckland (85 injuries), while 50 were recorded in Christchurch and six across the rest of the country.
The data was for claims made between October 14 - when Lime began hiring out electric scooters - and last Monday.
Auckland Council is looking to crack down on e-scooter safety with the hopes of introducing a speed limit, helmets and police enforcement.
Yesterday Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said council did not want to be "the fun police" but wanted to keep people safe.
Goff announced that council would be starting a safety campaign around appropriate use of e-scooters, as well as making a submission to Government around enforcing stricter safety measures.
The council will start a safety campaign around appropriate use of e-scooters. Photo / Greg Bowker
"At the moment I am working with Auckland Transport and the first thing I think is a matter of common sense is, you might be able physically to ride the scooter at 25km/h on the footpath – but that is just not on," he said.
"I think there has to be a speed limit and we are looking at the initial idea of a speed limit of around 10km/h but we will listen to public feedback on that.
"Secondly, the police have enforcement powers for reckless and dangerous behaviour and I want to talk to the police about using those powers where people are seen acting in that way. They need to crack down on that.
"The third thing is around the use of helmets. People have different ideas about that but what we have at the moment is a glaring inconsistency.
"If I am riding my electric bike I am required to wear a helmet, but if I am going faster on a scooter I am not. Central Government has that jurisdiction and they have to work through those particular issues."
Goff said the new safety awareness campaign, called Scoot Safe - which cost $10,000 - would include posters, signs at bus stops, and online activity.
