MPs call for e-scooters to be legalised on roads as it could save 40,000 tonnes of CO2 each year

Legalising e-scooters for use on roads could help save over 40,000 tonnes of CO2 a year in the UK – the equivalent to the emissions produced by 29,000 passenger cars every year, according to new analysis.

More than one in five drivers surveyed in a study said they would consider replacing short car journeys with a e-scooter trip if they were legalised on the road in Britain, according to research by e-mobility website, Move Electric.

But there are huge safety concerns over scooters as reports suggest that privately-owned e-scooters could be let loose on the roads 'within the next year'. This information comes in the wake of three riders who were killed in 2020 and another who were 729 injured in crashes on UK roads. Statistics also show that 131 pedestrians were injured by -scooter riders during the year as well.

Currently the law only allows e-scooters in specific public spaces and is limited to rental vehicles only.

This year London became one of the latest UK cities to trial e-scooters along with more than 30 other UK areas - including Newcastle, Bristol and Bournemouth.

Police struggling to enforce the usage of e-scooters as many private e-scooters being sold and used both inside and outside of the designated trial zones. This has caused calls for them to be legalised from inside government.

MPs on the The Transport Committee called for e-scooters to be legalised on roads to help those from poorer backgrounds avoid the cost of learning to drive, to reduce journey times and cut vehicle emissions. Though the committee have not put forward plans to allow e-scooters on pavements.

The London Cycle Campaign (LCC) has also backed them for use on public roads, saying they offer a 'cleaner, low carbon alternative' for those who can't or don't want to cycle.

E-scooters are also currently being used to record potholes in a bid to boost safety for riders and drivers.

Micro-mobility firm Dott fitted sensors to some of its rental e-scooters in London to collect road surface data during 1,800 rides covering more than 2,000 miles.

The sensors, provided by technology firm See.Sense, detect road roughness and changes in the behaviour of riders such as extreme braking and swerving.

Sudden movements by riders indicate they are on a road with an uneven surface.

E-scooters have smaller wheels than motor vehicles and bicycles, meaning they are more vulnerable to potholes.

Danger areas identified as part of the 10-week trial in London have been shared with authorities responsible for maintaining those roads.