Since Lime rental scooters burst onto the scene in 2018, e-scooters have taken New Zealand by storm.
Now an accepted part of life in many of our towns and cities, they are used by everyone, from high school students to senior citizens, executives, tradies and public servants. And with good reason. They’re a convenient way to get from A to B, they’re accessible, easy to park and they’re environmentally friendly. E-scooters are helping make our cities more liveable but there are, inevitably, a few issues with them. When ridden without enough care or consideration, they can be a hazard for pedestrians. And accidents, when they happen, can have nasty consequences.
e-scooters are a convenient way to get around our towns and cities, but how safe are they?
Between 2021 and 2023, more than 7,000 e-scooter injury-related claims were lodged with ACC, with a whopping 37% increase last year. This year, between January and June, 1,830 new claims were made – although it should be noted that in that same period, 12,000 new claims relating to car or motorcycle accidents were made. The main group of people experiencing e-scooter related injuries and incidents are New Zealand European/Pākehā males aged 20 to 40, and there is a higher rate of hospital admission among those renting their e-scooters compared to those riding privately owned scooters.
Most of us are likely know of at least one person who has injured themselves riding an e-scooter, with levels of injury ranging from bumps and bruises to broken bones, life changing head injuries (the concussion rate runs at about 50 incidents each year) and, in five cases, death. Studies show that helmets are the single most important way for riders to protect themselves, but while they are becoming mandatory in a growing number of places around the world, in New Zealand helmets are still just ‘recommended’.
There is some good news, though. Although the number of claims has shot up, the overall claim cost each year has fallen; essentially, as e-scooters have become more widely used here, the severity of injuries has lessened.
As the popularity of e-scooters is likely to grow, what can we do to boost safety and help ensure the downward trend of injury severity continues?
Chris Rodley is the National Manager for Regulatory System Design at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and he says education plays a key role.
“That is something NZTA is currently working on, starting with retailers, so customers can be informed from the beginning.” As many e-scooters are privately owned, this seems like an excellent place to start.
“Recently we reached out to more than 40 e-scooter and micromobility retailers across the country because we want to make consumers aware of the rules that relate to their purchase,” Chris says.
The Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 outlines how riders must behave, including being ‘careful and considerate’ when riding on the footpath, not going too fast, and giving way to pedestrians and drivers of mobility devices. The E-scooters (Declaration Not to be Motor Vehicles) Notice 2023 sets out the requirements for the e-scooters themselves.
“The Notice exempts e-scooters that meet certain criteria from being classified as motor vehicles, which means they don’t need to meet motor vehicle standards or be registered, they don’t need number plates, and riders don’t need to have a driver’s licence to operate them.”
Today, e-scooters are used by people from all walks of life.
How do you know if your e-scooter meets these regulations? Chris explains: “It must have a footboard, two or three wheels, and a long steering handle. Its wheels can’t exceed 355mm in diameter and it has to have one or more electric auxiliary propulsion motors. Also, its maximum power output can’t exceed 300W; if it does it’s classed as a motor vehicle, and since e-scooters don’t comply with motor vehicle standards and technical requirements, it can only legally be used on private property. Plus, you’d need to be licensed to drive it, and there are no licences for high-powered scooters.”
So, once we have ticked all those boxes, are we free to ride our e-scooters anywhere? Well, not exactly.
“E-scooters can be used on footpaths and roads (as near as possible to the edge), but not in cycle lanes. Only bikes are allowed in cycle lanes and cycle paths; however, e-scooters can use shared paths.”
That could change. Consultation on potential regulatory changes to enable e-scooters to use cycle lanes and cycle paths was undertaken as part of the Accessible Streets package in 2020, although so far, no decisions have been made. For now, e-scooter enthusiasts need to stick to the footpaths or roads, make sure their scooter meets legal requirements, and brush up on the safety rules.
The AA would like to see:
- Helmet use to be mandatory.
- e-scooters to be allowed on cycleways and shared paths, with speed limits.
- An age restriction of 16 years to apply to those riding e-scooters on a road.
- Rules around riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and not using cellphones.
- Regulations relating to safety when riding at night, such as lights and reflectors.
Story by Vanessa Trethewey for the Spring 2024 issue of AA Directions Magazine. Vanessa Trethewey is a freelance writer who regularly contributes to AA Directions magazine.
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