Research e-scooters before buying, says mum

A mum has urged parents to "do their homework" on electric scooters after her son was badly injured in a crash.

Cheryl's son, Ashton, 12, broke two bones in his lower leg when he was hit by an illegally ridden e-scooter as he walked home from school in Costessey, near Norwich, on 10 January.

Cheryl said she was unaware of the laws surrounding private e-scooters prior to the crash and suspected many other parents were the same.

Norfolk Police warned those caught riding e-scooters illegally faced prosecution, a fine or having the vehicles confiscated.

"It wasn't until this happened I realised [private] e-scooters were illegal and shouldn't be on the road," Cheryl said.

"These scooters can go 20 to 30 miles per hour and it's like giving your child a moped.

"There needs to be more awareness and I would urge parents to do their homework… as it could be your child next."

Ashton was struck by an e-scooter on Upper Breckland Road.

It was being being ridden by a boy with an older child on the back.

Ashton was rushed to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for surgery and had two metal pins inserted into his leg.

Cheryl said her son was likely to remain off school for at least six weeks.

"He keeps apologising, like it's his fault," she added.

"I don't blame anybody, I don't have any malice towards anybody, but it's impacted him a lot, and having to watch that impact is quite upsetting.

"He's my baby boy at the end of the day… And as his mum, I feel like I can't do anything."

E-scooters are currently considered motor vehicles under road traffic laws.

According to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), at least 45 people in England and Wales were killed in crashes involving e-scooters between 2019 and 2024.

The youngest was just 12 years old.

During the same period, about 20 government e-scooter hire trial schemes were launched in towns and cities across the UK – often run by local councils.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the schemes were fully insured, the vehicles were restricted to 15.5mph (25 km/h) and riders were required to have a full or provisional UK driving licence.

Sgt James Shepherd from Norfolk Police said while the hire schemes gave the impression all e-scooters were legal, insurance for private vehicles was currently unavailable, which meant they were illegal to ride on public highways.

"By buying your child an e-scooter and letting them go out and use it on the road, you could be liable for allowing them to commit offences," he warned.

"And youngsters could get points for a licence they don't even hold yet.

"The fire service have also had issues with batteries going up in houses. My advice is don't buy them."

A private members' bill was introduced to Parliament in November calling for the government to publish a review of the legislation and guidance relating to e-scooters.

It will be read a second time in March.

Ashton's school, Ormiston Victory Academy, said that following the incident, police had spoken to students during assemblies about the use of e-scooters.

"We will be continuing to raise awareness of the safety implications of e-scooters, and other dangers on the road, with our students through ongoing assembles and with families via our newsletter," it continued.

"In the meantime, we are providing ongoing support to the student involved and we wish them a very speedy recovery."

Norfolk Police said inquiries into Ashton's crash were ongoing.

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