Calls to make e-scooters legal in Jersey following crashes

E-scooters are illegal to drive on Jersey's roads

Two serious collisions involving e-scooters have prompted calls for them to be legalised in Jersey so their use can be regulated.

Sarah Highland, who was injured in May, has claimed e-scooters should be subject to speed limits and other restrictions to protect road-users.

E-scooters are illegal to drive on Jersey's roads.

However, the government is considering including them in its future transport strategy.

A spokesperson said they are watching trials in the UK.

Sarah Highland was badly injured in a collision with an e-scooter in May

Sarah Highfield suffered a fractured spine, a broken leg and bruising after a man riding an e-scooter collided with her on Patier Road while she was walking her dog.

She said: "It was very difficult at the time, I had to have a lot of time off work... We're not going to get rid of them now, a lot of people own them.

"I think they are quite an ecologically-friendly way to get around, but I do think they need to be legalised and therefore regulated."

Safety measures need to be put in place to protect both riders and pedestrians, she added.

Insp Callum O'Connor said people can potentially be prosecuted if they ride an e-scooter on the road in Jersey

Over the past four years, five collisions involving e-scooters have been reported to the States of Jersey Police and they say there may have been more that went unreported.

Insp Callum O'Connor said: "We continue to see a number of reports come in to us around young people using these on the road, and sometimes with two people on one e-scooter, which is incredibly dangerous for all road-users involved.

"Leading up to Christmas [we have] an important message; not legal, can only be used on private land."

'Get balance right'

There are plans to potentially include electric scooters in the island's strategy for alternatives to cars, but it is a long-term aim.

Carl Dodd from the government's infrastructure department said they need to speak to "local stakeholders" and present a "couple of options to the States".

"It's really important that we get the balance right in how we legalise them," he said

He added: "There is going to be a bit of time to get this right and think it through".

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