Laois County Council will call on the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications & Transport, Mr. Eamon Ryan TD to urgently enact legislation to regulate and improve the safer use of electric scooters.
This comes after Labour Cllr Marie Tuohy raised the motion at the monthly Council meeting earlier in the week.
Cllr Tuohy described such legislation as “long overdue,” before outlining the dangers of the vehicles.
“We all know that e-scooters are really popular, clearly useful, and enjoyed by many – but there is no point in denying that they can be completely dangerous,” Cllr Tuohy said.
“Walkers are advised to wear hi-vis vests; cyclists have helmets; motorcyclists need training and a licence; but there is no standards around the e-scooters.
“They are powerful vehicles that can travel up to 30 miles per hour; and they’re virtually invisible on dark nights.
“I don’t mean to be a spoil-sport or a kill-joy, but the Christmas season is on us now and I think we need to exercise caution around these scooters.”
There was cross-party support for the motion, with Cllr Willie Aird adding that the e-scooters do not come equipped with indicators.
There was further support from Cllrs Catherine Fitzgerald, Padraig Fleming, and PJ Kelly.
Cllr Tuohy also called on the County Council to highlight the online portal available to the public to report street lighting faults, in the interest of road safety, pedestrian safety along with personal, home and business security benefits especially in the winter months.
A Laois County Council will publicise through our website and social media platforms the existence of a portal to report public lighting faults
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