Lord Rogan has urged the UK Government not to legalise the use of e-scooters on public roads in Northern Ireland.
Speaking in the House of Lords this afternoon, Lord Rogan said: “Unlike in England in Wales, e-scooters are illegal on public roads in Northern Ireland but that has not stopped their use with an e-scooter rider being left in a critical condition last month after colliding with a car in East Belfast.
Lord Rogan
“Further, just last weekend the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service issued a warning after having to attend a spate of e-scooter fires caused by lithium batteries.”
He asked Trade Minister Lord Offord of Garvel: “In the continuing absence of an Executive at Stormont, can I have an assurance that any future legislation brought forward by His Majesty’s Government relating to Northern Ireland does not include the legalisation of e-scooters?”
Responding Lord Offord claimed the use of e-scooters was “not a UK-central issue, this is an international issue,” adding,” we are not alone in dealing with this modern technology.”
Commenting afterwards, Lord Rogan said: “Whilst I accept that the dangers posed by e-scooters extend beyond the United Kingdom, responsibility for their control within our own borders rests with our own Government. They have a duty to take that responsibility incredibly seriously given the dangers e-scooters pose.”