The parents of children caught riding e-scooters in public in Essex could face prosecution and points on their license. Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) is reminding parents and carers that it is against the law for them to allow their child to ride an e-scooter to school, or anywhere on the roads, pavements, cycle tracks or parks, says Essex Live.

Privately owned e-scooters are not allowed to be ridden on public land and highways. SERP adds that if Essex Police officers stop a child and suspect a parent or carer of purchasing the e-scooter for them and allowing its use on the highway, the parent may be investigated for causing a traffic offence.

This could result in a £300 fine, penalty points, and, in some cases, prosecution. The e-scooter will most likely be seized by police as well. The only e-scooters legal to use on public roads in Essex are those hired through the government-approved trial operated by Voi.

These can only be used by people aged 18 or over who hold a valid driving licence. They are available in Chelmsford and are planned to be brought to Braintree and, later, Colchester. SERP says that experience shows that children who use e-scooters have limited road safety awareness and skills, do not know the Highway Code, and are not trained to anticipate the behaviour of other road users or perceive hazards.

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