One was following me in a 30MPH limit. I was trying to be legal, but it was rapidly catching me. It undertook and accelerated away, through a red light. I estimate its speed at approaching 40 MPH. I've discovered they can be un-restricted via internet sites, but I suppose we need all the organ donors we can get.

This is the official view from a local chief inspector:

I need to emphasise the proportionately of dealing with this type of road user and vehicle type as the government trails have created a great deal of confusion amongst the public. As a consequence we suggest that our staff use Engagement and Education and only enforce where there are aggravating factors such as:

1. 1. Excess speed
   2. Disregard for other road and footpath users
   3. Failing to stop for police
   4. Connected with criminality
   5. Contravening traffic signals and directions

In the circumstances you describe seeing a scooter fail to stop at a red light and travel in excess of the speed limit then we would expect our officers to stop the vehicle and deal with the offences that are presented. It does need to be found committing, i.e. seen by a police officer.

We would also expect our officers to direct these scooters to the road from a footpath as per your observation of one in the town centre. At the moment due to the current confusion about the legislation for these vehicle’s, officers are not properly briefed, which may explain why they didn’t respond to seeing one on the footpath if it was being ridden carefully. This is being addressed and our roads policing team are reviewing and currently drafting policy which will be shared with all our staff as soon a it is complete.

If required recovery of an e-scooter using 165a Road Traffic Act powers can be facilitated but the rider will only have to confirm that they have rights of ownership and insurance, (you can buy e-scooter insurance).

In addition if they are being used in an antisocial manner we treat them like we do mopeds causing a nuisance by issuing s59 notices even if properly insured.

Edited by bathtub tom on 17/11/2020 at 17:00

Gogoro, the biggest e-scooter brand here, does over 90Kph, depending on the model.

That's a full-size, fully legal scooter though.

The wee stand-up things probably aren't legal on the public highway.

Hard to be sure because anyone who tried that on a Taiwan public highway probably wouldnt live long enough to be seen by more than a handful of people

These stand up things, are being talked about making legal next year I gather (only talking at the moment) but being electric may become legal, with a good range imo 18ish miles 30km

if they do, I hope they have better road awareness than some cyclists have, and good lights as some cyclists have non and expect drivers to see them??