In a deeply moving segment on Friday's BBC Breakfast, presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty delivered a vital public safety message, prompted by a mother's tragic loss.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Plea
The broadcast featured a pre-recorded message from Carly Calland, who shared the devastating story of her 14-year-old son, Jacob. Earlier this year in March, Jacob was riding an e-scooter with a friend when they were involved in a collision with a car. Tragically, Jacob sustained fatal injuries and lost his life.
"I don't want anyone else to have to sit with an empty chair at Christmas," Carly expressed, her grief palpable. "My 14-year-old boy is not going to be with me this Christmas."
Understanding the Law on E-Scooters
The segment was prompted by a police warning, which Charlie Stayt announced: "Police are encouraging the public to understand the laws surrounding electric scooters before buying them at Christmas." Naga Munchetty added that forces across England have seized and destroyed hundreds of e-scooters in a crackdown on anti-social and dangerous behaviour.
Transport correspondent Katy Austin outlined the current regulations, stating: "You can only ride a privately owned e-scooter on private land. It's against the law to ride them on public roads, pavements or even in parks." She further explained that while those with a full or provisional licence can rent e-scooters through official council schemes for use on some public roads, they remain illegal on pavements and motorways.
Calls for Stricter Regulation
In response to the tragedy, Carly Calland is now campaigning for stricter e-scooter regulations to ensure they can be used legally and safely. She is calling on the government to implement several key safety measures.
"We just want to make them safer for people," she concluded. "So we want the government to listen and put mandatory helmets in place. Stop passengers being carried and stop them being sold to under eighteens, and to be used in the correct way."
The government has stated it is taking action against mis-selling and illegal use. However, it is believed that more than one million e-scooters are currently being used unlawfully across the country, highlighting the scale of the issue.
