One in four say all e-scooters should have to pay tax and insurance regardless of speed capability

With new legislation on electric scooters expected to be signed into law in the coming weeks, there is widespread disquiet amongst the public about this mode of transport with more than half (55%) saying they are not safe enough to be used on either pavements or roads, and about one in seven (14%) stating that e-scooters should be banned altogether.  

This is according to the findings of a new survey of 1,000 consumers by iReach Insights on behalf of Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC (Aviva) which examined attitudes towards e-scooters as a mode of transport.

Commenting on the survey findings, Billy Shannon, Aviva said: “The use of e-scooters has increased substantially in recent years, but so too sadly has the number of traffic incidents and collisions involving e-scooters. 

Two people have died and more have suffered serious injuries from collisions involving e-scooters since the start of 2020 with an elderly woman who was recently seriously injured and who later sadly died in hospital following yet another collision with an e-scooter in Dublin while out walking.  

It is therefore no wonder that our survey found that more than a third (36%) of people are opposed to the use of e-scooters on pavements as they consider them a danger to pedestrians, while almost one in five (19%) believe that for safety reasons, e-scooters should not be used on Irish roads.”

Already widely used across the country, e-scooters are classified as mechanically propelled vehicles, thereby requiring tax, insurance, and a licence to be driven on public roads. However, it is currently not possible to licence or tax e-scooters, and this has created legal uncertainties around these vehicles, an issue that the new legislation aims to rectify.

The legislation in the pipeline is aimed at e-scooters travelling at more than 25km per hour, with slower e-scooters expected to be exempt from the laws.

Billy Shannon Aviva added: “Our research shows that while just over half (51%) agree with the planned legislation, a substantial proportion (27%) of these agree with the concept of the new law, but don’t think it will work in practice.”

Other key findings from the Aviva survey include:

• Almost one in four (24%) believe that all e-scooters should be taxed and insured, regardless of speed. 
• Over one in five (22%) don’t think e-scooters should be allowed at speeds greater than 25km an hour.
• Men are more likely than women to feel that e-scooters should be banned altogether.
• Dubliners are more inclined than others to want a complete ban on e-scooters, with people living in the capital twice as likely as those living in Munster to favour a prohibition of this mode of transport.
• Those living in Munster are most sceptical about the effectiveness of the upcoming e-scooter  legislation. 

“While the upcoming legislation on e-scooters should help address some of the legal conundrums around them, their increased use has also raised questions around road and pedestrian safety which need to be addressed.

It remains to be seen whether the upcoming rules are workable in practice or if the new law should be tweaked so that no e-scooters are exempt from licensing, tax, and insurance. Otherwise, the public disquiet around their use is likely to only increase,” concluded Billy Shannon.