Letter to Editor: Collision raises more questions over Harlow Council e-scooter trial
Your Say / Sun 6th Apr 2025 at 01:51pm
Dear Sir,
IT has been reported that the rider of an e-scooter sustained a broken leg as a result of an avoidable accident.
The police are currently investigating the matter and are appealing for witnesses to come forward with any information. I am confused as to why the police are investigating such an incident which if the e-scooter rider had followed the law would never have happened.
This incident highlights several important issues regarding road safety and the legality of e-scooter usage. If the e-scooter rider was breaking the law by riding an illegal e-scooter, then this accident should never have happened. Was the e-scooter rider arrested, or the e-scooter confiscated? Will the rider receive points on their licence if they even have one? Did the e-scooter rider have insurance? These are the pertinent questions that need addressing.
Moreover, the driver of the Renault Clio now faces potential consequences due to the e-scooter rider’s illegal activities. Will the driver incur higher insurance premiums because of this collision with an illegal e-scooter? Such incidents can have significant financial and emotional impacts on law-abiding drivers who find themselves involved in accidents through no fault of their own.
Yet again this is another incident involving illegal e-scooters and the failure of the police and council to enforce the law.
Messrs Swords and Gunn who want to bring an e-scooter trial to our town when other councils are cancelling trials are silent on the matter, have they decided the outcome already, will they use e-scooters when their already discredited trial is started? Will they publicly call on Police to enforce the law regarding these dangerous vehicles?
Will the editor of YourHarlow ask the Mark Hall By-election candidates for their opinion on the e-scooter trial being forced on the town and what they think should be done about the illegal use of e-scooters?
Sincerely,
Nick Churchill
Seamus
2025-04-06 18:16:33
It will be interesting to see just how many of those councillors supporting this fallacy, will be junking their cars and buying an e-scooter. Or is it just yet another example of Harlow council demanding do as I say and not as I do?
Peter
2025-04-06 19:45:09
Nick, are you the former conservative councillor?
Nick Churchill
2025-04-06 21:31:35
Yes Peter
Kim
2025-04-07 08:08:25
There's not enough in place for theses scooter's. In the wrong hands they are dangerous.. we had one pull out from pavement into road, straight across us in the car.. There needs to be a sensible age limit. And more laws in place, fines put in place. . . How can it be the driver s fault if these scooter's are coming for us.. This is good transport for a lot of people, it's the kids that need the road safety on them.
Jeff Fincham
2025-04-07 15:46:01
Basildon council have already cut there trial of e- scooters short our local councillors should find out the reasons why this was done before proceeding with this idea
Peter
2025-04-07 17:03:12
Thank you Nick, I asked because of the point I wish to make. Scooters have a massive potential benefit to provide cheap, low polluting local transport. There is also the risk attached to them being dangerously ridden (does the same risk apply to motorized transport especially at traffic crossings). My point is that they are not new. There was a Harlow company selling these in around 2000 (ahead of its time perhaps because it closed). Nick, were you raising the issues of scooter riding back then whilst you were a councillor? Your conservative party was in power for 14 years, what did it do in anticipation of scooters becoming popular. Nick, I am not having a go at you but rather how slowly the organisations that wish to govern our lives react to change, we see that with vapes and nitrous oxide more recently. Of course, cycling has been around for donkey years but pedestrians still walk spread out across the cycle tracks (even when the path and cycle track is separate) and car drivers bemoan cyclists so I am not optimistic that attitudes and behaviour will change. Harlow does have the ability to separate scooters and pedestrians in many parts. They should be banned from pedestrianized areas but then again so should cycles.
Ian
2025-04-08 17:33:44
Maybe we could learn from other European countries? Many have legalized scooters, and in my experience it is much safer over there. Instead of organising a trial, just get some cheap tickets to Poland and go to any major city. In my opinion the restrictive law is the problem; If somebody is already committing a "crime", what exactly is their motivation to ride safely?
Ted
2025-04-09 16:05:25
DAN SWORDS. You are doing a fair job refurbishing Harlow. Don't spoil your record allowing e.scooters. They have an electric motor , they need to have tax and insurance , plus no one below 17 should run them. They cannot be ridden on pavements because of the danger to pedestrians. They cannot be ridden on the road , because of danger to cars , buses , lorries ,etc. So what use are they. Some people say they can be used o cycle tracks , but how do they get to them without going on pavements or roads. They are a pest.
Ted
2025-04-09 16:11:07
Peter. Can you tell me where there is the ability to seperate pedestrians and scooters. Without the scooters having to negotiate pavements and roads.
Bob
2025-04-12 03:23:55
Who do I sue if I get hit by one? The council or the idiot on it?
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