E‑Scooter Laws and Safety Risks

Thames Valley Police would like to remind residents that privately owned e‑scooters cannot be used legally on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, parks, or town centres, and may only be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission. Privately owned e‑scooters are classed as motor vehicles, meaning they would require insurance, registration and vehicle approval, requirements they currently cannot meet, which is why they remain illegal in public spaces. Only rental e‑scooters operating in designated areas are permitted on public roads, and only for riders who meet strict conditions, including holding a valid licence and following speed and safety rules.

We are increasingly seeing e‑scooters used unsafely, including by children, often with riders not wearing helmets. National safety assessments highlight widespread confusion about the law, alongside rising concerns regarding collisions, injuries, and antisocial behaviour linked to illegal use. 

Thames Valley Police will continue to stop and seize e‑scooters being ridden unlawfully. Our priority is public safety, and we urge anyone who owns an e‑scooter to use it responsibly and legally to help keep our community safe.