Man using e-scooter in Wiltshire needs surgery after head-on crash with car
Police are reminding people it's illegal to ride a privately-owned one in public
Residents across Wiltshire are being warned about the dangers of using e-scooters, after two recent incidents involving the devices.
Police were called to Henfords Marsh in Warminster at around 18:30 BST on Sunday 4 July, after an e-scooter crashed head-on into a car.
The rider was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink driving, following a positive test for alcohol. The 47 year-old was then taken to hospital.
He had suffered multiple fractures to his leg, which required surgery. The e-scooter was seized by police.
At the hospital, the rider was de-arrested, but he's since been reported for traffic offences.
In a separate incident, a teenager in Westbury also had his e-scooter seized. He was playing "chicken" with oncoming traffic:
A stern reminder has now been issued by officers about the use of e-scooters, which have grown in popularity across the UK over recent months.
The devices are legally defined as 'Personal Light Electric Vehicles'. This means they can only be ridden on private land and are treated the same as motor vehicles, in the eyes of the law.
Only those used in government trials can be ridden on a public road or pavement. Even these must be registered with the DVLA, licensed, taxed, insured and fitted with number plates.
'We have no such trials in the Wiltshire area'
Inspector Pete Sparrow said: "Despite repeatedly highlighting the law around these e-scooters, there remains a complacency where an element of the public consider that the current law does not apply to them.
"We are aware that some areas of the country are trialling the use of e-scooters which are hired ... in these cases they are hired with the suitable checks of drivers license and come with tax and insurance.
"We have no such trials in the Wiltshire area and so the only place they can be ridden without the law applying is on private land".