Mayo County Council awaits new rules on e-scooters
There are currently no rules to govern the use of e-scooters in Ireland.
Final legislation on the use of e-scooters is hoped to be confirmed over the coming months.
Mayo Co Council's road safety officer Gary Smyth said e-scooters are a new introduction to the transport system in Ireland and there have been four fatalities from them nationally so far in 2023.
Mr Smyth said there are problems with them in Mayo but the council is currently awaiting final legislation on the use of e-scooters following a recent convention in Dublin, which would enforce a speed limit of 20km/h, no driving e-scooters on a footpath, a helmet to be worn, a minimum size of the e-scooters wheels, to be 16 years or older to operate an e-scooter and there is to be no passengers on the scooter.
Cllr John O’Malley said there have been several accidents on e-scooters, with a man in Castlebar recently killed after falling off an e-scooter. Cllr Damien Ryan said the sooner the new rules are published the better and then it is down to enforcement.
It is currently not possible to tax or insure e-scooters for use in a public place.
