New driving law could is being ‘rushed through’ and ‘could cost lives’ without changes

New driving laws set to be introduced from Saturday will allow rental electric scooters to use public roads in a bid to ease congestion. The new scooters will run up to 15.5mph next to cars across several major cities, which many fear could create a safety risk for riders and car drivers. 

He urged the system should not be used until an identification system is in place which would help boost road safety. 

He told Express.co.uk: “My concern at the moment is how are we going to identify the people that are using them. 

“That has to happen. You cannot let people use these machines without any form of identification in place. 

“And the problem is the physical stature is so smalls dn so diminutive you’re not going to be able to place an identifying feature such as a number plate or registration plate so the only way you’re going to identify is having a tabard.”

Mr Freeman told Express.co.uk the dedicated lanes would be “totally safe” as kerbs would be placed between scooter riders and vehicles. 

“I think there should be a dedicated lane in all city centres, right the way through every city centre, a dedicated lane where it is safe and secure.

“It’s a proper road surface, it’s not riddled with potholes and it has a kerb so that it’s protected and cars cannot get in there. So it’s totally safe. 

“Then they are kept out of cars way and you’ve basically got pedal cyclists, electric bikes and you’ve also got e-scooters, that’s what needs to happen. But that isn’t going to happen overnight.”

Mr Freeman has previously warned motorists would be initially blamed in any incidents between an eclectic scooter and a car. 

The “default position” would be to blame the driver unless they can prove that they were in control of the vehicle and the accident was the rider’s fault.