THE NUMBER of people being hurt or killed in incidents involving an e-scooter has risen sharply in Wiltshire. 

New Department for Transport figures show a spike in the number of reported incidents involving the popular mode of transport. 

In 2020 and 2021, only one incident of a person being injured in an e-scooter-related incident was reported, but this rose significantly to nine in 2022, which are the latest available figures. 

This amounts to one per cent of the total number of e-scooter-related incidents documented across Great Britain. 

While there is an increase within the county, the total number pales in comparison when you look at neighbouring police forces. 

In 2022, Avon and Somerset Police had 116, Thames Valley Police had 63 and Gloucestershire Police had 8. 

However, a year-by-year chart shows that in all four county police forces, the number of incidents is on an upward trend, particularly in the more built-up areas like Avon and Somerset and Thames Valley which have had a much sharper increase. 

The two-wheelers are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles, so they are treated as motor vehicles and subject to the same legal requirements, such as an MOT, licensing, tax, and insurance.

As e-scooters do not have number plates or signalling ability and do not always have visible rear lights, they cannot be used legally on the road.

It is against the law to ride a privately owned e-scooter in any public place in the UK, including on pavements, parks, town centres, or promenades.

The only place a privately-owned e-scooter can be used is on private land with the permission of the land owner.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman added: “Our focus is on talking to the riders and making them aware of the law regarding e-scooters.

“Offenders who knowingly and persistently break the law will be dealt with appropriately. The scooter will be seized and the rider will be reported for any offences."

Nationally, there was a total of 1,458 casualties involving e-scooters – up slightly from 1,434 in 2021 and a leap from 484 in 2020.

The statistics also show there were 12 deaths as a result of e-scooter collisions. Of them, 11 were e-scooter users and one was a pedestrian.

The majority of the 1,106 who were severely or slightly injured last year were the scooter riders themselves, with 76 per cent.