Compulsory helmets for e-scooter users being considered

Ellen O'Donoghue

Helmets may soon become compulsory for e-scooter users as ministers move to tighten road safety rules.

The Government is examining tougher enforcement on speed limits and underage use, after a rise in serious injuries, reports on Monday have said.

Three people died in e-scooter accidents last year.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister of State for Road Safety Seán Canney have said they are determined to strengthen regulations and improve enforcement of the rules around speed and underage use of e-scooters, The Irish Times reported.

They are due to meet Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien early this year to discuss ways of strengthening the regulations.

It is understood that compulsory helmets and high-visibility jackets will be their focus.

However, The Irish Times understood that the Government will stop short of requiring e-scooters to be registered or for users to be licensed.

One backbench Government TD has called for registration, but Mr Canney has said safety can be improved without having to go through a lengthy process of drafting legislation.

Doctors have warned that e-scooter crashes are now a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries among children.

Shane O'Donoghue, editor of completecar.ie, told Newstalk that helmets should be compulsory.

"I think it’s right to focus on what we can do to improve rider safety on e-scooters 100 per cent. Given the number of children, in particular, that have been admitted to hospital in the last year from e-scooters, I think compulsory helmets is a great idea," he said.

E-scooters are classified under 2023 legislation as a new category of vehicle, Powered Vehicle Transporters.

Users are not required to have a licence, be registered, or pay tax and insurance. Nor does the law specify that helmets or high-visibility jackets must be used.

The regulations prohibit children under 16 from using them. The maximum legal speed for e-scooters is 20km/h, and their use on footpaths is prohibited.

E-scooters are not allowed to carry more than one passenger at a time under the law.

Those rules are regularly flouted by some users, and there is evidence of widespread use of e-scooters by children under 16.

In response to a query from The Irish Times, the Taoiseach said there would be an evaluation of the public health aspect of the rules.

“There are rules in place already and they must be adhered to. I also believe people should strongly consider wearing helmets when riding an e-scooter,” he said.

Mr Canney told The Irish Times the current regulations would be reviewed in January with a view to making helmets and high-visibility clothing mandatory.

He referred to there being an issue enforcing the current rules.

Some of the more powerful e-scooters on sale in shops and online in the Republic are advertised as having top speeds of 60km/h or more.

“Selling a machine that can go at a speed in excess of what is allowable is a huge anomaly,” said Mr Canney. “If the scooter can go up to 40km/h even though the regulation says 20km/h, people will go at 35km/h or even 40km/h,” he said.