The figures for 2020 have prompted a fresh call for the Government to make up its mind on the legal status of e-scooters.

The vehicles are currently only permitted on public streets if they are hired as part of monitored trials that are under way in several places around the country, including London.

In total, there were 460 accidents involving e-scooters last year which resulted in 484 casualties; of these, 384 were e-scooter users, with one death recorded. Fifty seven pedestrians were injured in accidents involving the vehicles while 21 casualties were reported among cyclists.

It is not clear from the data how many of the incidents involved scooters that were being used as part of official trials and how many may have been ridden illegally by private owners.

Road safety group IAM RoadSmart said that a decision on the legal status of the micro mobility vehicles should be made soon to help avoid unregulated use.

“We have another Christmas looming where people will be buying and using a totally unregulated form of transport in the UK,” said the group’s director of policy and research Neil Greig. “The pilots were launched in July 2020 and are now not due to finish until March 2022, plus the time required after that for analysis and legislation – this has taken far too long in our opinion.”

He added: “E-scooters may have a role to play in the future transport mix, but this can only happen once their legal status has been made completely clear and that cannot happen soon enough.” In the meantime he said police should send a clear message that those caught riding an e-scooter outside of a trial area can expect to have their vehicle seized.

(Photograph: Joaquin Corbalan P - Shutterstock)