Experts Speak Out In Latest Podcast As Part Of Road Safety Week

As part of Road Safety Week, Irwin Mitchell has joined forces with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to discuss the rising popularity of E-scooters and how to stay safe around them.

In the law firm’s latest podcast, serious injury lawyer Richard Biggs delves into E-scooter legislation and issues affecting blind and partially sighted people.  He is joined by the RNIB’s Lewis Winton, regional campaigns officer, and Erik Matthies, policy officer.

During the 20-minute episode, the trio focus on –

• E-scooter accidents and injury statistics
• The law’s view on E-scooter use and ownership
• How blind and partially-sighted people are affected day-to-day
• What can be done to make the use of E-scooters safer for everyone

Expert Opinion

“Although they’re becoming commonplace in most major UK cities, the law surrounding E-scooters isn’t common knowledge.

Currently they can only be used lawfully on private land unless rented through a government scheme, which means that E-scooters are legal to buy but illegal to use on public roads. Many people, however, are unaware of this.

There are also increasing concerns over accidents involving E-scooters. In 2021, there was a 194% national increase in people being injured through E-scooter accidents compared to the same time period in 2020. Of those, 12 people sadly died.

With around one million E-scooters already in use, the number is expected to rise sharply, and people, particularly those who are blind or live with visual impairments, need to know how to stay safe.” Richard Biggs, Serious Injury Lawyer

Lewis said: “E-scooters pose a lot of challenges to blind and partially sighted people, who already find it difficult to navigate busy environments.

“We need to work with the Department for Transport to encourage responsible riding, responsible parking and robust enforcement of legislation.”

Erik added: “One of the recommendations we are looking to make to government includes ‘go slow’ areas such as hospitals and schools where there are high volumes of people.”

To find out more on E-scooters, the law and the implications for this with visual impairments, listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Captivate FM.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling serious injury cases