Age limit for sale of e-scooters to be scrapped

Proposals to introduce an age limit for the sale or supply of e-scooters look set to be dropped by the Government, amid fears that the measure would be unenforceable.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan is understood to be proposing a number of amendments to the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which legislates for electric scooters and electric bikes as well as other road safety issues.

One provision in the Bill, which is currently before the Dáil, makes it an offence to supply the scooters to people under the age of 16.

However, the Government intends to delete this because ownership will not have to be registered and there is no requirement for individuals to carry proof of age. It is understood that an age limit would be unenforceable as a result.

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E-scooters are currently classed as “mechanically propelled vehicles”, meaning they should not be used in public places without tax, insurance and an appropriate category of driving licence.

The legislation will create a new vehicle category to be known as Powered Personal Transporters (PPTs) which will include e-scooters and similar devices.

A number of other key amendments to the proposed laws have been discussed including those around traffic calming measures and cycle routes, access to National Car Test data and the power to revoke driving licences. It is understood that a new power will be introduced for the first time to allow the Road Safety Authority to revoke a driving licence.

This could happen when a licence has been obtained by fraud at some point in the system, for example, if someone else takes the theory test on the driver’s behalf. It could also happen where a non-EU citizen has a temporary right of residence in the State and receives a licence.Their licence could be revoked when their temporary right of residence expires.

Further amendments set to be introduced include plans to improve the decision-making process for traffic calming measures. One such measure initiated by Dublin City Council was the Strand Road cycleway trial in Sandymount, which ended in a high-profile legal dispute.

A new decision-making process is to be set out for trial and permanent measures. This would require a public consultation process and a decision by elected members before a trial measure could become permanent. If a decision to continue the measure was not made in the trial period, the measure would have to be removed.

Other changes to the legislation could see the Road Safety Authority given the power to provide online access to NCT data for vehicle owners, while prospective owners could also seek access to help them make a decision about buying.

Another change would see the Minister given the power to set in regulations the degree of variance permitted in evidential breath tests for alcohol.