Select a region
Police have reminded islanders that e-scooters cannot legally be used in public after two separate collisions at the weekend both resulted in riders needing hospital treatment.
Jersey's roads policing lead – Inspector Callum O’Connor – also said the force was "working closely" with colleagues in the Government's Infrastructure Department to work out how e-scooters "might be safely integrated into Jersey’s transport system".
His comments come after a 12-year-old boy sustained a "significant head injury" following a collision involving a car and an electric scooter on Saturday on La Route de St Aubin, near to Bay Stores.
Pictured: An e-scooter collided with a car on St Aubin's Inner Road on Saturday.
The force said the child and his parents were flown to Southampton Hospital, and yesterday described his condition as "stable".
Another collision between an e-scooter and a car took place on Sunday at around 19:35 on Belvedere Hill in St Saviour, near the junction with Bagot Road.
In an appeal for witnesses, the police said the rider of the scooter, a 26-year-old man, is currently receiving treatment in the General Hospital for a "serious" head injury.
In a statement, Insp O’Connor reiterated that the use of e-scooters remains illegal on roads, pavements, and other public spaces in Jersey.
The only exception is their use on private land, with the landowner's permission.
Insp O’Connor said: "The primary concerns with e-scooter use in public areas include the potential for collisions, injuries, and conflicts with pedestrians and other road users."
He pointed out that e-scooters are capable of reaching "significant" speeds and that, without proper infrastructure and regulation, their use "poses a significant risk."
Insp O’Connor continued: "Our priority is to protect all road users and pedestrians.
"We will continue to enforce the current laws and take appropriate action against those who use e-scooters illegally in public spaces.
"We also encourage residents to report any instances of illegal e-scooter use to the police."
Pictured: The head of roads policing, Inspector Callum O’Connor, encouraged islanders to report "any instances of illegal e-scooter use".
Insp O’Connor added: "We are closely monitoring developments and regulations in other jurisdictions regarding e-scooter use and working closely with our colleagues at Infrastructure on how they might be safely integrated into Jersey’s transport system in the future.
"Until any changes are made, we urge the public to adhere to the existing regulations and prioritise safety."
Officers would like to speak with any witnesses, or anyone with dash cam footage of either collision over the weekend.
Anyone who has any information is asked to contact police on 612612, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.