E-scooter laws ‘will be a huge help’ to gardaí in improving road safety 

'There are laws now, and the gardaí will be very active on this', said Sergeant Michael O’Connell

Sgt O’Connell said that as of now, anyone under the age of 16 caught riding an e-scooter will see their vehicle seized. File picture: Nick Potts/PA

A senior member of An Garda Síochána in Cork has said the new e-scooter rules “will be a huge help” over the coming months in their effort to reduce road accidents involving small motorised or electric vehicles.

The rules, which will now see e-scooter drivers fined for not wearing protective equipment such as helmets and high-visibility clothing, come following an increase in road accidents involving such vehicles throughout the summer months.

Under the new rules, e-scooter users deemed to be non-compliant with the regulations can be issued a fixed-charge penalty of €100, with increases to detention fees of e-scooters also coming down the line in October.

After October 2, the cost of storing a seized e-scooter will rise to €80 for the first day, and will increase by a further €30 for every day after.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Sergeant Michael O’Connell of Anglesea St Garda Station said the new rules will “reassure pedestrians and other road users” that compliance with road safety is a priority for An Garda Síochána.

“This will be a huge help for us with regard to policing going forward,” said Sgt O’Connell.

“It also gives us something to bring to the public to make them aware of their responsibilities.

“There will be a certain amount of leniency at the start, to allow people to get used to the new rules, but once people are well aware they can be prosecuted and fined for not wearing helmets or high-vis jackets, it should really help.

“It will take a while [for behaviours to change]; it usually takes some time. It might need a little enforcement, but it’s early days, and the proof will be in the pudding [once some time has passed].”

This will also reassure pedestrians and other road users too, as it is still a huge issue with people who disrespect footpaths and cyclists, he added.

“We’ve seen a massive number of accidents with e-scooters, particularly up the country, as a result of people falling off these vehicles, colliding with other vehicles, or walls and footpaths — a lot of which the driver was without a helmet.”

Vehicles to be seized 

While an outright ban on individuals under the age of 18 being allowed to operate an e-scooter is yet to come into effect, with plans to introduce such measures before the end of the year, Sgt O’Connell said that as of now, anyone under the age of 16 caught riding an e-scooter will see their vehicle seized.

“There have been numerous e-scooters seized across the city in recent months,” said Sgt O’Connell.

“A big thing is speed limits; a lot of [e-scooter drivers] are younger, they’re flying around, so you’d hope that [once a ban on U18s is introduced], drivers will be a little more mature and responsible.

“What I would say to the public now is to be vigilant, to be aware of the new rules, and to comply with them — we won’t have an issue if you wear a helmet.

“There are laws now, and the gardaí will be very active on this. There is a lot of public pressure on it,” he added.

“The gardaí will be taking a serious interest in this over the next few months to get on top of it.”