Government launches e-bike safety awareness campaign
Product safety lawyer Jill Paterson welcomes the launch of a new safety campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of buying unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium-ion batteries online.
Posted on 29 October 2024
According to data from the London Fire Brigade, in 2023 there was a fire every two days linked to e-bikes and e-scooters in London alone. The London Fire Brigade attended 143 e-bike fires and 36 e-scooter fires, with three deaths and around 60 injuries caused by these fires.
It is believed that these fires were caused by e-bike modifications, incompatible chargers, and faulty or counterfeit products bought online.
E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming an increasingly popular mode of transport as people look for healthier and greener ways to travel. Unfortunately, they are also becoming a growing fire risk.
E-bikes can be ridden legally across the country, as long as they do not exceed an output of 250 watts or travel faster than 15.5 miles per hour. E-scooters, however, are only currently legal for use on private land, unless they are part of a government rental trial.
The Department for Business & Trade’s “Buy Safe, Be Safe” campaign aims to encourage consumers to:
- Buy safe products from reputable sellers
- Only replace items with products recommended by the manufacturer
- Seek professional help when converting or repairing e-bikes or e-scooters
It is hoped that the Government’s Product Regulatory and Metrology Bill will address safety concerns around unsafe products being bought by consumers online. The Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 4 September 2024, and a Second Reading took place on 8 October 2024. The Committee Stage starts on 4 November 2024.
Jill Paterson
Jill Paterson is a renowned market leader in representing people who have been harmed
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