Councillor Alan Cheevers has called for urgent improvements to legislation governing e-scooters, describing the current situation as unacceptable following the death of a boy in Carlow amid increasing numbers of incidents involving their use.
“I am calling on the Minister for Transport to introduce more stringent legislation. It is vital that we strengthen the rules to ensure the ongoing safety of both e-scooter users and the wider public,” said Cllr Cheevers.
Speaking locally, he added, “E-scooters are becoming increasingly out of control across Galway city. We are seeing children as young as eight and nine years of age using them on our streets. If we do not act now, we risk a tragic fatality.”
The Royal College of Physicians Ireland released a paper last year revealing that e-scooter accidents are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in children admitted to the paediatric neurosurgical centre at Children’s Health Ireland, Temple Street, despite the fact that it is illegal for under-16s to use e-scooters on public roads.
Cheevers also said that “In addition to stronger legislation, we urgently need a multi-agency public awareness campaign to educate people about the dangers associated with e-scooters and the importance of using them safely and responsibly.
“Public safety must be our priority, and we cannot afford to wait until a serious tragedy occurs before taking action.”
