Call for education campaign on e-scooters and the new law banning them from footpaths

The need for an education campaign about the safety of e-scooters and the new law banning them from footpaths was raised in a motion by Cllr Helen Meyer at the November meeting of Meath Co Council. She also asked that the council erect public signs on streets in towns indicating that the use of e-scooters on paths is illegal.

“This is a really big issue,” said Cllr Meyer. There have been people injured. There are lots of people flying along, really fast on scooters on footpaths. Many, many people have contacted me saying it is getting dangerous and they are causing more issues for people. It would be helpful to have a public campaign around it. Maybe some signs erected so people know they are not allowed on footpaths, and the speed they are supposed to be going and they are not allow carry people either and they have to be over 16.”

In its response Meath Co Council outlined three elements of its planned awareness campaigns. This includes awareness education through the Road Safety Office for schools in Meath and Director of Service Martin Murray said this is regularly updated and would be with regard to the laws around e-scooters.

There will be another campaign on the fixed charge fines that you can receive and they will also have a social media campaign highlighting six rules on the use of e-scooters.

Cllr Nick Killian supported the motion and said it was becoming an issue. “I see it in Ratoath and I see it in Ashbourne all the time. It is mainly young people, unfortunately, they are flying along on footpaths. I am concerned for older people, people with disabilities or those with buggies.”

He welcomed the roads awareness education through the road safety office in schools in Meath and said it should be done as soon as possible, not just at post primary but at primary also, saying children as young as 10 and 11 are on these scooters.

Cllr Alan Tobin said enforcement is a big issue and one they should bring up at the new Community Safety Partnership.

He added: “It needs to be advertised on billboards or bus stops, to make sure people need to know about them because we are getting the calls about the injuries and people being mown down.”

In terms of signage, the council said only signs prescribed by traffic signs manual can be erected and that they would comply with these regulations.