Swegway hover boards may be the latest and greatest thing to hit the streets, but they won’t be hitting the streets legally in the UK. This type of a motorized scooter, sometimes known as a self balancing sweg has become increasingly popular, but it is also one of the more difficult and dangerous vehicles for individual public transportation.
If you have been thinking that it is “legal” to ride one of these self balancing scooters in public in the UK, you better think again. The CPS has announced, officially, that it is illegal to operate one of these motorized carts in public.
Own one of these or thinking about getting one? They’re illegal to ride in public! Info here: http://t.co/We85yLAzsU pic.twitter.com/vMm0hxNAjs
— MPS Specials (@MPSSpecials) October 11, 2015
The Crown Prosecution Service states that it is against the law to ride one of these self balancing scooters on any public road. That would include the pavement, so you are only able to operate them legally on private land.
“1.”I have a self-balancing scooter and I want to ride in on the public road, is it legal for road use?”
No. Vehicles must be approved via ECWVTA or MSVA in order to be licensed and registered. Self-balancing scooters would not currently meet the requirements of these schemes so are not legal for road use.
2.”I have been riding a self-balancing scooter on the public footway (pavement) outside my house, have I committed an offence?”
Yes. It is an offence under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 to ride or drive a vehicle on the pavement. It is only an offence under this Act in England and Wales. In Scotland it is an offence under section 129(5) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.
3.”Where can I ride a self-balancing scooter?”
You can only ride an unregistered self-balancing scooter on land which is private property and with the landowner’s permission. The Department for Transport would advise that appropriate safety clothing should be worn at all times.”
What can you do if you have purchased one of these scooters now that they are illegal? You can simply enjoy riding around on them from your front door to the mailbox.