E-scooter accidents are occurring because of a lack of regulation, not because the technology is inherently irredeemable, a professor of transportation has argued. 

Following a number of accidents that have left children with life changing injuries, the Government has announced new restrictions on the vehicles. 

From next month, no one under the age of 18 and Gardaí will be able to levy on the spot fines of €100 for rule breaking. 

However, the new rules fall far short of a full ban on the vehicles - which the Department of Transport has said was under consideration. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Professor Brian Caulfield of Trinity College said people should not lose sight of the fact that there are advantages - as well as risks - to e-scooters. 

“What we know now in terms of the data about paediatric safety risks around e-scooters is the reason why we're having this big debate,” he said. 

“The other thing I would say as well is it's very, very rare that we add a new mode of transport into the mix and e-scooters are a new mode of transport. 

“So, there are these issues that are occurring with them because of lack of regulation.” 

Professor Caulfield continued that e-scooters remain a useful tool in the drive to cut emissions, which the Taoiseach has described as a “particular focus of my Government”.

“Where e-scooters can work - and some of this is kind of in theory - is when an e-scooter trip is replacing a car trip,” Professor Caulfied said. 

“We do have data on that; the Road Safety Authority did a survey back in 2024 saying that about 50% of e-scooter trips could have been car trips.

“However, that's only one data point; we have thousands of data points on the accidents that are occurring. 

“So, what I'm trying to argue in the article is that we need more research on this and that perhaps it is a sustainable mobility option.”

However, Professor Caulfield noted that their utility has been limited by the fact they are banned on public transport in Ireland. 

“The reason behind this is because of the battery that's underneath the e-scooter and the regulations around the design of these scooters can lead to fires happening,” he said. 

“So, what I would say is in that case, in order to get the maximum out of this new mode of transport, we do require much stricter regulations on the design, the standards that are used to produce these e-scooters that are coming into our country.”

Main image: A man on an e-scooter. Picture by: RollingNews.ie.