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| Research e-scooters before buying, warns Costessey mum | |
| (21 days later) | |
| Ashton, 12, broke both bones in his lower leg after being hit by an e-scooter | Ashton, 12, broke both bones in his lower leg after being hit by an e-scooter |
| A mum has urged parents to "do their homework" on electric scooters after her son was badly injured in a crash. | A mum has urged parents to "do their homework" on electric scooters after her son was badly injured in a crash. |
| Cheryl's son, Ashton, 12, broke two bones in his lower leg when he was hit by an illegally ridden e-scooter as he walked home from school in Costessey, near Norwich, on 10 January. | Cheryl's son, Ashton, 12, broke two bones in his lower leg when he was hit by an illegally ridden e-scooter as he walked home from school in Costessey, near Norwich, on 10 January. |
| Cheryl said she was unaware of the laws surrounding private e-scooters prior to the crash and suspected many other parents were the same. | Cheryl said she was unaware of the laws surrounding private e-scooters prior to the crash and suspected many other parents were the same. |
| Norfolk Police warned those caught riding e-scooters illegally faced prosecution, a fine or having the vehicles confiscated. | Norfolk Police warned those caught riding e-scooters illegally faced prosecution, a fine or having the vehicles confiscated. |
| "It wasn't until this happened I realised [private] e-scooters were illegal and shouldn't be on the road," Cheryl said. | "It wasn't until this happened I realised [private] e-scooters were illegal and shouldn't be on the road," Cheryl said. |
| "These scooters can go 20 to 30 miles per hour and it's like giving your child a moped. | "These scooters can go 20 to 30 miles per hour and it's like giving your child a moped. |
| "There needs to be more awareness and I would urge parents to do their homework… as it could be your child next." | "There needs to be more awareness and I would urge parents to do their homework… as it could be your child next." |
| Ashton is sleeping in the living room and uses a walking aid to get around the house | Ashton is sleeping in the living room and uses a walking aid to get around the house |
| Ashton was struck by an e-scooter on Upper Breckland Road. | Ashton was struck by an e-scooter on Upper Breckland Road. |
| It was being being ridden by a boy with an older child on the back. | It was being being ridden by a boy with an older child on the back. |
| Ashton was rushed to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for surgery and had two metal pins inserted into his leg. | Ashton was rushed to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for surgery and had two metal pins inserted into his leg. |
| Cheryl said her son was likely to remain off school for at least six weeks. | Cheryl said her son was likely to remain off school for at least six weeks. |
| "He keeps apologising, like it's his fault," she added. | "He keeps apologising, like it's his fault," she added. |
| "I don't blame anybody, I don't have any malice towards anybody, but it's impacted him a lot, and having to watch that impact is quite upsetting. | "I don't blame anybody, I don't have any malice towards anybody, but it's impacted him a lot, and having to watch that impact is quite upsetting. |
| "He's my baby boy at the end of the day… And as his mum, I feel like I can't do anything." | "He's my baby boy at the end of the day… And as his mum, I feel like I can't do anything." |
| The two bones in Ashton's lower leg - the tibia and fibula - were broken in the crash | The two bones in Ashton's lower leg - the tibia and fibula - were broken in the crash |
| E-scooters are currently considered motor vehicles under road traffic laws. | |
| According to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), at least 45 people in England and Wales were killed in crashes involving e-scooters between 2019 and 2024. | |
| The youngest was just 12 years old. | The youngest was just 12 years old. |
| During the same period, about 20 government e-scooter hire trial schemes were launched in towns and cities across the UK – often run by local councils. | During the same period, about 20 government e-scooter hire trial schemes were launched in towns and cities across the UK – often run by local councils. |
| The Department for Transport (DfT) said the schemes were fully insured, the vehicles were restricted to 15.5mph (25 km/h) and riders were required to have a full or provisional UK driving licence. | |
| Police say the e-scooter rider was taken to hospital with minor injuries | Police say the e-scooter rider was taken to hospital with minor injuries |
| Sgt James Shepherd from Norfolk Police said while the hire schemes gave the impression all e-scooters were legal, insurance for private vehicles was currently unavailable, which meant they were illegal to ride on public highways. | Sgt James Shepherd from Norfolk Police said while the hire schemes gave the impression all e-scooters were legal, insurance for private vehicles was currently unavailable, which meant they were illegal to ride on public highways. |
| "By buying your child an e-scooter and letting them go out and use it on the road, you could be liable for allowing them to commit offences," he warned. | "By buying your child an e-scooter and letting them go out and use it on the road, you could be liable for allowing them to commit offences," he warned. |
| "And youngsters could get points for a licence they don't even hold yet. | "And youngsters could get points for a licence they don't even hold yet. |
| "The fire service have also had issues with batteries going up in houses. My advice is don't buy them." | "The fire service have also had issues with batteries going up in houses. My advice is don't buy them." |
| A private members' bill was introduced to Parliament in November calling for the government to publish a review of the legislation and guidance relating to e-scooters. | |
| It will be read a second time in March. | It will be read a second time in March. |
| Ashton's school, Ormiston Victory Academy, said that following the incident, police had spoken to students during assemblies about the use of e-scooters. | Ashton's school, Ormiston Victory Academy, said that following the incident, police had spoken to students during assemblies about the use of e-scooters. |
| "We will be continuing to raise awareness of the safety implications of e-scooters, and other dangers on the road, with our students through ongoing assembles and with families via our newsletter," it continued. | "We will be continuing to raise awareness of the safety implications of e-scooters, and other dangers on the road, with our students through ongoing assembles and with families via our newsletter," it continued. |
| "In the meantime, we are providing ongoing support to the student involved and we wish them a very speedy recovery." | "In the meantime, we are providing ongoing support to the student involved and we wish them a very speedy recovery." |
| Norfolk Police said inquiries into Ashton's crash were ongoing. | Norfolk Police said inquiries into Ashton's crash were ongoing. |
| Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | |
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