Sir, – As with all readers of your newspaper, I was extremely concerned to hear about the injuries sustained by children as a result of motorised scooters. The fact that six children were treated in intensive care with severe life changing head injuries is to say the least concerning.
It was reassuring to hear in recent days that the Government is now looking at a potential ban of electric scooters. Perhaps this is an opportune moment for the Government to look at legislation for all road users other than car and motorcycle drivers who have long since been very regulated.
The advent of electric bikes means that people travelling on these machines can achieve much higher speeds than a pushbike and in view of the weight of these machines, an impact from one can be catastrophic.
In addition, the advent of delivery people no longer using vans, but now using bicycles – many of which also have electric motors – has changed what we previously thought of the use of bicycles on the road. Any road user will be aware of the frequent examples when bicycle delivery riders ignore traffic lights and other common-sense rules of the road.
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Finally, since cycling has become a sport as well as a mode of transport has it now become time to regulate the use of the roads by leisure cyclists?
I witnessed a group of 30 cyclists followed by a group of 30 cars passing my house at the weekend. The opportunity for these cars to pass this group of cyclists safely are non-existent. I find it somewhat ironic that cycling is the only sport that is allowed to use our national network for sport.
Living in Donegal I would not be very happy if rally drivers were able to practice for their sport on roads before a rally, yet it seems perfectly acceptable for large teams of bicycle cyclists.
I would suggest therefore that the time has come to regulate all road users. – Yours, etc,
PETER O’ROURKE,
Ramelton,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – Yesterday, while driving past the old County Hall in Wexford town, I encountered two e-scooters wobbling along the road in quite heavy traffic. Both were overloaded with two young teenagers aboard, wearing the skimpiest of clothing and short shorts, and I couldn’t help but think of flesh being ripped from legs and heads being cracked open with permanent brain damage done – and perhaps being run over and killed by following traffic – should they crash the scooter.
These were irresponsible children, aided and abetted by irresponsible parents who bought these e-scooters.
A few days earlier, I met an e-scooter-styled electric motorbike near Wexford town, being driven at approximately 70km/h.
It obviously couldn’t be insured or taxed because these vehicles are not type-approved for use on roads.
While gardaí are doing their best, they simply do not have the resources to be everywhere. The e-scooter, if properly used by mature adults, can be a useful short-distance way of reducing car use and pollution. However, the problem of abuse of use is so widespread and injury so severe, that these should be banned.
The Minister for Transport, in the meantime, should introduce an order for fines of up to €10,000 per offence for importing or selling e-powered vehicles or conversion kits that exceed the power limits allowed under law.
The “off-road” loophole being used to justify such sales needs to be closed.
Use of such vehicles on the roads should attract a €3,000 personal fine. The fines should be capable of being collected by confiscation of property such as cars, TVs, gaming machines, etc, or by salary deductions until the value of the fine is reached.
The levels of lawlessness and misuse have become so bad, that it has become necessary to take such measures and a ban is justified. – Yours, etc,
DAVID DORAN,
Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow.
