Amazon Ireland pull e-scooters capable of breaking Irish speed limits

Michael Bolton

Amazon Ireland is among other major retailers pulling illegally fast e-scooters from sale in Ireland.

The government is facing increasing pressure to act to stem the number of injuries caused by the vehicles, which are now the top cause of traumatic brain injuries among children.

The Irish Independent reports that Amazon Ireland, Decathlon and Ali Express have all delisted e-scooters capable of travelling faster than 20 kilometres per hour in recent days.

Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy called on all retailers to follow the lead of Amazon and pull the sales of their e-scooters until they comply with the law.

Murphy, who chairs the Oireachtas Transport Committee, was informed by the online platform this weekend that the electric foldable e-scooter has been removed from sale and an investigation is now underway at the online retail giant.

“A child’s health and a person’s well-being is far more important than any business profit margin,” the Tipperary Fine Gael TD said.

“I commend Amazon for the quick action taken. It displays responsibility and transparency from a business.

“I now call on all other retailers to follow suit and pull these e-scooters from being sold in their shops and online. Some of these are specifically marketed at children as young as six years old,” Deputy Murphy said.

“Two retailers have since taken action. But it isn’t enough.

“Others need to front up now and put people’s safety and the well-being of children first and pull the sale of these products[2]. Anything less is unacceptable,” he said.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed reports that some retailers have pulled dangerous e-scooters from sale.

“We welcome reports in the Sunday Independent that Amazon, Decathlon and AliExpress have pulled these from sale and hope that other retailers follow suit.

"However, today you could still go into a toy shop and buy an escooter for a child as young as six that is capable of travelling up to 16kph. These vehicles should be banned outright.

"The Green Party has been calling for escooters marketed to under 16s, and those capable of travelling faster than 20kph, to be banned from sale.

"Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of the coalition leaders, we urge them to immediately introduce legislation to make the sale of these vehicles illegal.”