ONE person in Gwent has been hurt by an e-scooter so far this year according to a Freedom of Information request.

Gwent Police was asked for the number of casualties relating to e-scooters between 2019 and so far in 2022. Their response said that there was just one in that time frame – which was in 2022.

It is currently illegal to ride e-scooters on the road or on pavements in Wales, with their use only being permitted on private land with the landowner’s permission.

Since 2019, more than 40 e-scooters have been confiscated by Gwent Police. None were confiscated in 2019, along with six in 2020, 34 in 2021, and, so far, one in 2022.

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Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles, and they are under the same rules as motor vehicles including the need to have a licence, insurance and tax. It is not possible to get insurance for a privately owned e-scooter and therefore it is illegal to be used.

The force said: “If you’re using a private e-scooter you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for no insurance.

“If you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car.”