Gardaí renew e-scooter safety warning after fatal and serious injury collisions in Carlow town

An Garda Síochána has renewed its call for e-scooter safety after two separate traffic collisions in Carlow town, one of which was fatal and one of which resulted in a serious injury.

In a statement, gardaí said the rapid rise of e-scooters from recreational toys to a genuine mode of transport, particularly over the last two years, has been accompanied by a corresponding rise in the number of reports of incidents involving them, including collisions and near misses.

Gardaí said they remain committed to keeping Irish roads safe and continue to detect offences involving e-scooters, seizing them in accordance with the law where circumstances exist.

They appealed in particular to young people to be aware of the laws surrounding e-scooters and to take responsibility for adhering to them, while also asking parents and those in positions of responsibility to advise and educate young people on the dangers e-scooters can pose.

Gardaí outlined four key laws governing the use of e-scooters:

• A driver must be at least 16 years of age to drive an e-scooter on a public road.
• E-scooters cannot be driven on footpaths.
• A speed limit of 20km/h applies to e-scooters.
• E-scooters must not have a seat fitted, and must not be used to carry passengers or goods.

The same rules of the road that apply to cyclists also apply to e-scooter drivers, gardaí said, including the obligation to obey traffic lights, road signs and Garda instructions.

Gardaí described e-scooters as a valuable mode of transport, but asked users to respect the power of the machines and to exercise care when using them on the roads. While wearing a helmet on a standard, compliant e-scooter is not a legal requirement, gardaí said it is strongly recommended.