E-scooter retailers putting children on the wrong side of the law – Murphy

Retailers must take responsibility for how they market and sell e-scooters, given the strict rules around who can use them and the speed limits they can operate at, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Michael Murphy, Chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee said well-known Irish retailers are selling e-scooters which could result in harm to children who are too young to operate them and put people on the wrong side of the law.

E-scooter users must be at least 16 years of age, and devices used on public roads can’t exceed a design speed of 20 km/h.

Deputy Murphy said some retailers are marketing e-scooters directly at children, saying they’re suitable for those aged over 8[1], or even a scooter suitable for those over 6 which can go 16 km/h[2].

A recent Children’s Health Ireland study showed there’s been a 50pc increase in the number of children and young people admitted to hospital with traumatic brain injuries because of e-scooter incidents[3].

“Parents should be able to trust that a toy shop isn’t selling something that’s illegal for their child to use on public roads. If a scooter can’t legally be ridden by anyone under 16, it shouldn’t be marketed like it’s for an 8-year-old’s birthday,” said Deputy Murphy.

Others are advertising models with top speeds of 25km/h as “for daily city commuting”[4] or “navigating city traffic”[5], in the face of Ireland’s clear laws.

“You can’t advertise something as ‘perfect for your commute’ when it’s faster than what’s allowed on Irish roads. That’s not a small print issue – it means the customer walks out of the shop with something they can’t legally use as sold,” Deputy Murphy said.

He said the issue isn’t limited to one or two shops. Similar marketing has been flagged around popular online websites[6] and retailers[7] which includes a listing which delivers to Ireland and claims top speeds of 105 km/h, with no warning about Irish laws.

Deputy Murphy pointed out that Gardaí can confiscate e-scooters from under-16s, and parents can face prosecution for allowing their child to ride one on public roads. He also said retailers have a duty to make sure customers understand these restrictions at the point of sale, whether it be in-person or online.

“Retailers need to be upfront with customers about what’s legal on the road. I’m asking for retailers to review how these products are marketed, and I’ll be raising this with the Road Safety Authority and at the Oireachtas Transport Committee,” Deputy Murphy concluded.

[1] https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/outdoor/scooters/electric-scooters/isporter-g2l-electric-scooter-pink/p/236213

[2] https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/outdoor/scooters/electric-scooters/gyro-h40-electric-scooter/p/249971

[3] https://www.childrenshealthireland.ie/news/e-scooters-are-the-leading-cause-of-traumatic-brain-injury-tbi-among-children-admitted-under-the-neurosurgery-and-rehabilitation-services-in-chi-at-temple-street-and-the-rate-of-admission-continues-to-rise/

[4] https://www.decathlon.ie/p/1100555227-4164881-s8-s-z-48v26ah-battery-10-inch-tire-foldable-e-scooter.html

[5] https://www.decathlon.ie/p/1100819500-6241384-e-scooter-max-90km-with-1600w-motor-h11-abe.html

[6] https://www.amazon.ie/Gotrax-Electric-Suspension-Foldable-Escooter/dp/B0CDLBJ5DH/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.v-R0MA3opF-zXjkVoS5SoJifVPM3vWqNWgzwQMJcdSfbB70P3XUhEKtBlcDNMEGo8O9bgkPCK4xUGGUJUi8pMg.xrTkXYLxOl782SSSntdOerIAdko-ZyhrQ3hpVGc1_nM&dib_tag=se&keywords=e-scooter&qid=1784108530&refinements=p_n_g-101014806648111%3A96248400031&rnid=96221560031&s=sports&sr=1-1&th=1

[7] https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012011396355.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.6.6d5e5c5aPFmb6N&algo_pvid=7c343a5d-eba9-454e-a147-63b14d94687c&algo_exp_id=7c343a5d-eba9-454e-a147-63b14d94687c-9&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%22-1%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21EUR%214184.63%214184.63%21%21%214674.00%214674.00%21%402103828617841086015684788e107a%2112000057265725423%21sea%21IE%210%21ABX%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29910%3Bd%3Affe66b10%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=zkcrKWJ3laUh&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005012011396355%7C_p_origin_prod%3A#nav-description