'Near misses' with e-scooters in Nenagh

Tipperary Co Council is to ask the Minister for Transport to introduce legislation making it compulsory for people on e-scooters and e-bikes to wear hi-vis jackets.

Local councillor JP O’Meara tabled a notice of motion at the December meeting of the council’s Nenagh Municipal District. He wanted the council to write to Minister Darragh O’Brien requesting the introduction of legislation “to ensure the compulsory wearing of hi-visibility jackets by all e-scooter and e-bike users, in addition to the lights they are already compelled to have on same said vehicles”.

The motion was supported by Cllr John Carroll, who said he himself had had some “near misses” with e-scooter users. He agreed that there is a safety issue in the Nenagh district as e-scooter users generally wear dark clothing and their lights are “insignificant”.

“They could seriously injure someone,” Cllr Carroll said.

Cllr Fiona Bonfield also supported the motion, though she questioned whether the hi-vis requirement would be enforced.

Cllr O’Meara said e-scooter and e-bike users are “advised to, not obliged to” wear hi-vis jackets under the current legislation. He had also had near-misses with users driving at speed; he referenced one incident involving a child in the dark.

Noting that e-scooters and e-bikes have become much more popular, Cllr O’Meara said issues have arisen all over the country and he feared a serious accident happening in this district. He welcomed that his motion would be forwarded to the January meeting of Tipperary Co Council and looked forward to discussing it further then.