E-scooters to be banned for under-16s nationwide next week

Anyone under the age of 16 be banned from using an electric scooter under new laws being signed into effect on Monday.

It is understood that the regulations signed by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, initially proposed as part of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, will commence on May 20 following months of delay.

Ryan had previously stated in 2023 that any attempt to restrict the use of electric scooters by age would be ‘unenforceable’ due to the lack of a national identification card system for under 18s. The Minister for Transport has since changed his mind over safety concerns and the law will come into place soon.

Under the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations the ordinary speed limit for an electric scooter in respect of all public roads is 20km per hour.

As part of this new law e-scooters will be classified as personal powered transporters, with their own strict regulations.

There will be strict requirements around braking and lighting in the regulations, and the use of an electric scooter for carrying more than one person at the same time will be prohibited.

The new regulations also say an electric scooter should not be fitted with a seat. E-scooters will have to be safe, roadworthy and do not "endanger, impede or inconvenience the driver, other road users or members of the public" according to the regulations.