Herts police have issued a reminder over the laws for electric scooters, with the vehicles becoming increasingly popular.

It is illegal to ride a privately-owned scooter anywhere on public land, including highways, pavements or cycle lanes, and they must be ridden on private land.

"E-scooters can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission," Welwyn Hatfield Safer Neighbourhood Team Inspector Amy Sheldon.

"While they can be used on public land as part of a government trial, there are no trials taking place anywhere in Hertfordshire at this time.

"To be clear, this means that if you are riding an e-scooter through the streets of Welwyn Hatfield, including within the town centres, you are breaking the law.

"These vehicles can be very dangerous when involved in a collision. Sadly, across the country there have even been fatalities."

In September 2021, a man in his 50s died after falling off an electric scooter and suffering a fatal head injury in Stevenage.

Just one month earlier, a 20-year-old man was arrested after illegally riding an e-scooter through the town centre during a police crackdown.

Then, in June last year, an 11-year-old boy was seriously injured after crashing into a car while riding an electric scooter.

"I appreciate that many e-scooter riders are using them sensibly, and parents may even be buying them for their children thinking they are harmless fun," Insp Sheldon continued.

"If you are caught riding an e-scooter on a public highway, pavement or cycle lane it could be seized by the police.

"You could then be reported for driving offences which would lead to significant penalty points and a fine.

"If you are a parent letting your child ride these in public, you will be the one found responsible and in turn this could affect your own driving licence.

"Please take good notice of this advice and if you have a friend or family member using these vehicles, let them know so that they don’t get into trouble either."