Urgent action is being sought in Letterkenny to halt the dangerous behaviour of e-scooter users, with riders seen speeding, not using helmets, and carrying passengers.
Councillors have said that poor practices on the vehicles are an “accident waiting to happen” and are calling on Donegal County Council to play a part in enforcing safety rules.
Ireland’s current e-scooter regulations don’t go far enough, said Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh at Tuesday’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.
Cllr Kavanagh pointed out that the number of e-scooter related fatalities is going up year-on-year and that 59% of people injured by e-scooters are young people. At the same time, fines for speeding and breaking the regulations are €50.
“E-scooter users don’t have to be registered, taxed, insured or licensed, and even protective helmets are only advised,” Cllr Kavanagh said.
“The main concern I would have is the issue of people driving on footpaths and carrying passengers.
“People don’t seem to be aware of what their responsibilities are.”
Cllr Kavanagh asked whether Donegal County Council could play a role in promoting safer practices, either through bye-laws or traffic wardens.
“It’s only a matter of time before we have someone seriously injured in the town,” he said.
Mayor of Letterkenny, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, also raised his concerns, adding that he was in favour of e-scooters on the road if driven responsibly and safely.
“They are a great form of transport for young people,” Cllr McMonagle said.
“I am in favour of them if we put in place the proper infrastructure to provide for them.”
Cllr McMonagle moved a motion to meet with Gardai and explore the creation of bye-laws that would regulate their operation in Letterkenny for the safety of users, other road users and pedestrians.
“These scooters are predominately used on footpaths,” he said. “Pedestrians, particularly elderly people and people with mobility users, are not able to get out of the way.”
Cllr McMonagle added that he believed that users should go through a proficiency test before they are allowed on the road.
“I’ve seen no one on an e-scooter with a high viz vest or helmet on them, and these vehicles can go at 20km an hour and faster,” he said.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen.”
A spokesperson for Donegal County Council said that the enforcement of legislation for e-scooters is the responsibility of the Gardaí and that the local authority will contact gardaí on the matter. Councillors were also told that active travel works in the town will provide cycleways and linkages to avoid dangerous actions by e-scooter users.
