E-scooters will cause a fatality, warns councillor

It is only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured by an e-scooter rider in Mullingar, a local county councillor has warned.

Speaking at the Westmeath Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting held yesterday, Monday, Cllr Mick Dollard said he has been contacted by a number of people about the growing problem of people riding e-scooters irresponsibly on the town’s streets, roads footpaths and greenways.

While he acknowledged that is an "international problem", Cllr Dollard said that there have been a number of "near misses" in Mullingar recently.

"Some of the footpaths are very narrow. Some people are on their e-scooters and you have elderly people coming out of their houses.

"On a few occasions, there have been very near misses. I think that it is only a matter of time before there is going to be a fatality or serious injury to somebody."

Cllr Dollard also said he has seen increasing numbers of parents taking children to school on e-scooters.

"I think it’s crazy, quite frankly. They are out on the main roads and competing with traffic. You see it on a regular basis."

"Is there legislation there whereby gardaí can take appropriate action," he asked.

Responding to Cllr Dollard’s query, Inspector Peter Gilsenan said legislation relating to e-scooters is before the Oireachtas and is at an advanced stage.

"They were categorising the different types of scooters based on their energy levels, the power they can generate.

"It [the legislation] is expected at any stage now – hopefully by the next meeting we will have greater clarity as to e-scooters and the categories that they fall into."

Chief Superintendent John Dollard said that An Garda Síochána have called for a minimum age limit to be introduced for e-scooter users.

"Let’s see if this makes into the legislation. The guards do want the area legislated and they do want a minimum age limit."