Major retailers under fire for selling e-scooters despite warnings
Related: MP calls for urgent review of legislation on e-scooters
Major British retailers, including Currys, Argos, Halfords and Amazon, are under fire for marketing e-scooters for “urban riding” and “commuting”.
Privately owned e-scooters are illegal for use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements in the UK, a fact often downplayed or omitted in promotional material.
Police and coroners have issued warnings about the serious risks of injury or death, with 10 fatalities and 1,484 injuries reported last year from e-scooter collisions.
A 2022 inquest into the death of a 14-year-old girl prompted a coroner to criticise retailers for selling e-scooters without adequate legal warnings.
Following investigations, some retailers like Argos and Currys have begun updating their websites to remove misleading language and provide clearer legal disclaimers.
