Electric scooters have become ubiquitous in towns and cities across the UK, offering a cheap and convenient personal transport option. However, what many see as a positive development has presented an extra hazard on our roads that HGV drivers need to be aware of – particularly as it’s leading to more accidents and deaths. 

According to a report by digital platform SNAP, the rise in popularity and use of electric scooters, the accidents caused are increasingly involving HGVs. With a large number of riders acutely unaware of the number of blind spots a lorry has, the potential for future accidents in urban areas is a major source of concern.

2 Million E-Scooters On UK Streets in 2022

In 2022, 2 million e-scooters were driving on UK streets, and the SNAP report described those using them as ‘prime candidates’ for disappearing in an HGVs blindspot. 

The general accident statistics speak for themselves, as according to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), there were 33 deaths involving e-scooters. 

The youngest person to die while riding an e-scooter was 12, with the oldest being 74, with sixteen dying in single-vehicle collisions. As previously mentioned, the lack of knowledge of HGV blind spots needs to be addressed on a wide-scale basis. 

36% of Riders Couldn’t Say How Many HGV Blind Spots Existed

As cited by SNAP, a recent National Highways campaign highlighted the fact that over ⅓ (36%) of people couldn’t accurately state how many blind spots a lorry has. Short-term hire e-scooters are now available in 51 towns and cities across the UK – something that’s potentially putting truck driver routes under threat. 

It also stated that more awareness of this factor within road-using communities could prove vital in driving down the number of collisions. Speaking on the matter, the Managing Director of SNAP, Matthew Bellamy, had this to say:

“Truck drivers are a lifeblood of the UK economy, and we need to make life as safe as possible for them. Extra mirrors and technology have helped, but other road users still unknowingly threaten HGV drivers by vanishing into their blind spots.“

Awareness of This Aspect of Road Safety Must Be Improved

E-scooters seem to be here to stay for the time being, meaning that they’re something that all HGV drivers in the UK need to keep a keen eye out for. However, even then, blindspots mean that even the most vigilant of drivers can’t always prevent accidents involving electric scooters. As such, awareness of blind spots must improve

The HGVC team will continue to do our part in combatting the problem by delivering world-class HGV training that equips drivers with the skills needed to attain the highest possible safety standards. Available via our national network of training centres, we can cater for any size of requirements, from single-driver training to large-scale needs. 

If you’d like to know more about us and how we operate, take a look around our website or to talk to us about your precise needs, call 0330 818 8888 or click on ‘Contact us’, and we’ll get back to you as we possibly can.