A significant increase in children being penalised for driving uninsured electric scooters has raised concerns among road safety experts in the UK.
Data obtained by a road safety charity reveals that nearly 800 children aged between 13 and 16 have received an IN10 endorsement – the police code for “using a vehicle uninsured against third-party risks” – since the start of 2020.
While 2020 recorded no such incidents, the number of children penalised for using e-scooters without insurance skyrocketed to 375 by 2024.
The sharp rise in penalties has been attributed to the legal limbo surrounding e-scooters in the UK. These vehicles are illegal on pavements and other public land, and while they can be used on the road, the law requires insurance coverage.
However, it is currently impossible to obtain insurance for privately owned e-scooters. The IN10 endorsement serves as one of the primary sanctions that police enforce against the illegal use of e-scooters.
Along with confiscating the scooters, this sanction has become a common consequence for children found riding these vehicles without the required insurance.
The charity behind the data collection suggested that these penalties may be contributing to the notable increase in the number of cases involving children.
The issue of uninsured e-scooter usage is not limited to children. A rise in the number of young adults between the ages of 17 and 24 being penalised for the same offence has also been recorded. In 2020, 532 individuals in this age group were penalised.
By 2023, the number reached an alarming 20,026 before decreasing to 13,556 in 2024. While e-scooters may be a contributing factor to these figures, a sharp increase in insurance premiums has been cited as another likely reason for the rise in penalties.
According to figures from the Pearson Ham Group, which tracks insurance costs, premiums for young drivers have seen a significant jump, remaining 21% higher in 2024 compared to 2020.
While insurance premiums dropped slightly in 2024, the overall cost for young drivers continues to remain a significant burden.
Road safety experts are calling for immediate government action to address the insurance affordability crisis and the growing number of uninsured drivers.
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at IAM RoadSmart, expressed alarm at the increasing number of young people caught driving or riding uninsured vehicles.
He urged the government to act swiftly, proposing the introduction of legislation on private e-scooters. Such legislation, he argued, should include minimum technical standards, speed limiters, and a requirement for riders to possess a minimum level of competency.
To address the broader issue of young drivers being penalised for uninsured driving, the charity has called for a reduction in insurance costs for young drivers.
Specifically, they are advocating for a zero-rate of Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) on policies for young drivers under 25 who have completed an approved driving or riding course.
In addition, they have proposed the creation of a Young Drivers Taskforce within the Department for Transport (DfT) to explore potential solutions to the growing issue.
A spokesperson from the DfT commented, saying, “We are carefully considering next steps on e-scooters, but in the meantime, private ones remain illegal for use on public roads.”
As the debate continues over the legal status and safety of e-scooters, the rise in uninsured riding remains a pressing concern for both young riders and road safety advocates.
