The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is launching a high-profile campaign aimed at educating the public about the use of e-scooters.
The campaign will commence on Monday, 20 May 2024, the day when new regulations for e-scooters will come into effect. The tv-led campaign is supported by video-on-demand, radio, digital audio, social media and out-of-home advertising. The campaign is set in an office environment where colleagues welcome the newbie. The colleagues are dressed as various characters such as Bus, Truck, Motorbike, Car and Bicycle and the newbie E-scooter. The characters interact with each other while highlighting six of the main rules of the road that apply to e-scooter use.
The campaign focuses on communicating the main Rules of the Road relating to e-scooters and other road users sharing the roads together.
From 20 May, e-scooters can be used:
- by people over 16.
- on cycle and bus lanes.
- on local, regional and national roads.
E-scooters are not permitted:
- to be used by people under 16.
- to carry goods or passengers.
- to be used on footpaths, pedestrianised areas or on motorways.
- To exceed a speed limit of 20 km/h
E-scooters must be treated with the same care as people who cycle.
In addition, where a bicycle is not permitted, e-scooters are not permitted either. Rules that cover bicycles apply to e-scooters. E-scooters are not permitted to have a seat.
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the RSA, said: “Next week marks an important change on Irish roads. We are asking people on e-scooters and other road users to familiarise themselves with the traffic laws and regulations concerning this new vehicle type.”
“The RSA’s advertising campaign will be extensive and will support both e-scooters and other road users to understand how to share the roads safely together. It aims to remind all road users that we are all people sharing the roads together.”
An e-scooter is a vehicle with a small standing platform and no seat, for use by one person only, with two or more wheels and propelled by an electric motor. The rider can also propel the e-scooter forward by pushing off the ground.
From 20 May, e-scooters are legal to use on public roads under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023.
Breaking the Rules of the Road, not following regulations and improper or dangerous use of an e-scooter will likely result in a fixed charge notice (fine).
Motorists sharing the road with e-scooters should follow the same guidelines as for sharing the road with people who cycle. Drivers should give at least one metre clearance when overtaking an e-scooter user in speed zones that are 50 km/h or under, and at least 1.5 metres in speed zones over 50 km/h.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding e-scooters are available here.
Further information on the RSA campaign is available here E-scooters (rsa.ie)
Please see https://www.gov.ie/ for more information on e-scooter regulations.
