People in Scotland considering buying an electric scooter or e-scooter, this Christmas are being urged to fully understand the law and the implications of using one in a public place before they do.
We hope to dispel and address some of the myths about where you can and can’t ride e-scooters.
The use of e-scooters in a public place in Scotland is illegal.
While e-scooters are legally available to purchase, it is currently against the law to ride a privately owned e-scooter in any public place in the UK. This includes roads, pavements, parks, town centres or promenades.
The only place a privately owned e-scooter can be used is on private land with the agreement of the land owner. We are also urging retailers selling e-scooters to make sure they inform their buyers of this at the time of purchase.
E-scooters are currently classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) so they are treated as motor vehicles and are subject to the same legal requirements as any other motor vehicle and require insurance, a valid driving licence and compliance with various construction and use requirements.
Superintendent Simon Bradshaw, Deputy Head of Road Policing, Police Scotland said: “We understand that e-scooters are a tempting option for Christmas presents this year. It is important however, to make it clear, these are not toys and they are illegal to use in public. If an e-scooter is on your Christmas wish list, make sure you know how and where to use them safely.”
