Insurance, liability and legislation are all being left behind by the rising usage of e-scooters.
That was the message during a showcase presentation delivered by Davies Group at the inaugural ARC360/ILC Motor Claims Showcase event, which took place on Wednesday 29 June at the CBS Arena, Coventry.
The event, headline sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, along with fellow sponsors EDAM Group, Control Expert and Procurato, sought to elevate standards within the accident damage sector by sharing best practice across the supply chain through a full agenda of keynote addresses, presentations and panel discussions.
Some 400 delegates attended the event, which also featured over 30 exhibitors and networking opportunities.
Speaking on the showcase stage, Dr Richard Ellwood, GBB (UK) began by explaining the current legislation around e-scooters. He said that trials of 23,000 e-scooters are currently being held in 31 regions in the UK. These trials are due to end in November, after which the government will hold a public consultation addressing safety issues, benefits and public perception, with a view to legalising their wider usage.
However, he revealed that the illegal use of e-scooters is rising dramatically with estimates suggesting there are now as many as 750,000 on UK roads, most of which do not meet legislative requirements while many others have been modified to exceed the typical 15-20mph limit. Some, he said, can now reach speeds of 50mph.
The consequences can and have been severe. Although accurate statistics are difficult to obtain, provisional data suggests that there were 1,280 collisions in 2021 – up from 460 in 2020 – with 1,359 casualties. Of these, 390 were serious, with nine fatalities.
He revealed that nearly 20% of injuries were head injuries due to the low rates of helmet use.
But as e-scooter drivers are uninsured and untraceable, unaccountability is a genuine concern.
To better understand the causes and consequences of these collisions, and to raise safety standards around e-scooters, Davies Group has called for fuller investigations post-incident.
Firstly, Ellwood said that the vehicle itself needs to be examined more forensically. That includes assessing the mechanical condition of the vehicle, such as brakes, tyres and tyre pressure. Investigators must also establish if modifications have been made to speed settings and bodywork, as well as checking for marks and paint transfer.
He also urged investigators to carry out an incident reconstruction, using evidence from the scene, from video footage and witnesses, to gain a deeper insight into the behaviours of e-scooter drivers.
ILC would like to thank its motor Corporate Partners: AkzoNobel; Audatex; Autoglass; CAPS; Carpenters Group; Copart; Davies Group; e2e; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Gemini ARC; GT Motive; The Green Parts Specialists; IAA; Innovation Group; S&G Response; Sherwin Williams; and thingco.
ARC360 would like to thank its Corporate Partners: Audatex; BASF; BMS; CAPS; Copart; EMACS; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Innovation Group; Mirka; NWVA; S&G Response; and Sherwin Williams, as well as Partners asTech; The Green Parts Specialists; Indasa; and Prasco UK.
