A motoring expert has said he can “completely see why” a full ban on e-scooters is being considered by the Government. 

In recent weeks, a number of children have ended up in intensive care in Temple Street Hospital with life changing injuries, following e-scooter accidents. 

In theory, children under the age of 16 are banned from using e-scooters; however, enforcement has proved difficult and Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is “leaning towards” a full ban. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, CompleteCar.ie Editor Shane O'Donoghue said it may seem like an “extreme measure” but that he understands the Government’s concerns. 

“We have already got a set of regulations in place and they're not being enforced and they're very difficult to enforce in fairness to Gardaí,” he said. 

“You need to be over 16, you're not supposed to have a passenger, the e-scooter is supposed to be below a certain power and they're not supposed to be on footpaths.

“I can't see no matter how many Gardaí we throw at the problem that we will ever be able to enforce these things.”

An e-scooter user. Picture by: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie.

Mr O'Donoghue added that Ireland’s transport infrastructure is generally built for cars, not bicycles or e-scooters. 

“We don't have segregated infrastructure for cyclists - never mind e-scooters and that's something that will take decades to improve,” he said. 

“Therefore, we have this interim period where we have e-scooters sharing the road with cars with cyclists and everything but then taken to the footpaths. 

“So, it feels like because of the injuries, because of the tragedies, the deaths that do we have a choice? 

“I can completely see why a full ban has been called for.”

'Really one of enforcement' 

Also on the programme, climate researcher Sadhbh O’Neill said the status quo clearly needs to change, but that should not necessarily mean there should be a full ban. 

“We've got primary legislation and detailed regulations governing who can use the e-scooters, how old they have to be, how they have to be constructed and where they might operate,” she said. 

“So, the question isn't about a legal framework - we have that. 

“It was well considered at the time and quite detailed and prescriptive; the problem is really one of enforcement.” 

Ms O’Neill added teenagers misbehaving is not something that started this year. 

“Let's just remember that it takes zero political courage to scapegoat teenagers misbehaving on roads because they have always done that,” she said. 

“I remember a time long before e-scooters and e-bikes and scramblers were a problem on our roads, teenagers doing wheelies - that is not new.”

Main image: Children on e-scooters. Picture by: Alamy.com.