E-scooter riders 'more likely to jump red lights than cyclists', London study finds

By ROB HULL Updated: 14:35 08 Nov 2024

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With Transport for London considering increasing speed limits for e-scooters and reducing the age limit to 16, a new study has found riders are far more likely to ignore red lights than any other road users, including cyclists.

Two in five e-scooters observed across 80 different busy junctions in the capital ran red lights, according to research carried out on behalf of dashcam company, Nextbase.

That compares to 28 per cent of cyclists who ignored red stop signs at hectic intersections.

Nextbase commissioned dozens of researchers to observe 80 different London intersections over a period of several hours, recording the behaviour of over 12,500 road users.

It undertook the project having 'continual received feedback' from users of its dashcams about the high number of riders and cyclists running red lights.

However, it said there is a 'lack of statistical evidence' to back up these claims.

Market research agency Shepper conducted the research, with its team witnessing 144 e-scooter riders in total. Of these, 60 rode through red lights at the busy junctions.

There were 2,509 cyclists in total who were tallied by the researchers. Of these, 697 were witnessed not stopping when the lights were red.

1. Streatham High Road & Greyhound Lane: 93.5% of e-scooter riders and cyclists ignored red lights

2. Kilburn High Road & Belsize Road: 80.0%

3. Elephant and Castle (New Kent Road & Walworth Road): 78.6%

4. Canning Town & Barking Road: 66.7%

5. Wandsworth High Street & East Hill: 63.3%

6. Tooting High Street & Selkirk Road: 63.2%

7. Clapham High Street & Clapham Park Road: 59.5%

8. St Martin's Lane & Chandos Place: 58.8%

9. Brick Lane & Bethnal Green Road: 56.7%

10. Hampstead Road & Fitzjohns Avenue: 55.6%

Source: Research carried out by Shepper on behalf of Nextbase at 80 London junctions. 1,250 road users observed

The higher likelihood of e-scooter riders ignoring red lights in London is a major concern, especially with Sadiq Khan's transport bosses reportedly 'considering' increasing the maximum e-scooter speed to 15.5mph and lowering the age limit for riders to 16.

This proposal is being considered despite the fact 35 people have been hospitalised in London with 'serious injuries' since e-scooter rental trials were launched in the capital in 2021 as part of a 'green transport revolution'.

At present, the almost 5,000 rental scooters in London cannot exceed a speed of 12.5mph.

Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase, said the research was 'not designed to attack cyclists or e-scooter riders' and instead was conducted to 'highlight how a minority of these road users are putting themselves in serious danger'.

He said: 'Junctions can be very dangerous places and must be treated with respect. It doesn't matter if you're a driver, a cyclist, or on an e-scooter - running the red light is illegal and puts you and others in danger.

'Hitting a pedestrian will be life-changing for both you and the victim, and you could easily be hit by traffic coming from another direction. It's just not worth it, ever.'

He adds that drivers 'worried about liability' in instances where collisions take place at junctions when other road users ignore red lights should look into investing in a dash cam, which 'will always provide a neutral record of exactly who is at fault in the event of a crash'.

But while Bryn said motorists should use technology to protect themselves against claims, a small percentage of drivers of cars, vans and lorries were also found to be breaking the law at the busy junctions.

Of the 9,880 motorists recorded, more than one in ten (11 per cent) were in some way distracted when navigating the junctions - including 4 per cent who were observed using their mobile phones.

This is despite the introduction of much stricter rules around 'touching' handheld devices while at the controls of a vehicle - and punishment for being caught upped in 2017 to six points and a minimum £200 fine.

Other distractions included eating and drinking as well as smoking and vaping while driving.

1. Walworth Road & East Street: 38.7% drivers distracted

2. Mile End Road & Burdett Road: 38.6%

3. Haringey & Turnpike Lane: 32.6%

4. London Fields & Broadway Market: 31.8%

5. St Martin's Lane & Chandos Place: 30.1%

6. Mare Street & Well Street: 28.7%

7. New Oxford Street & High Holborn: 25.8%

8. Elephant and Castle (New Kent Road & Walworth Road): 24.7%

9. Caledonian Road & Pentonville Road: 24.6%

10. Pall Mall & Waterloo Place: 24.4%

Source: Research carried out by Shepper on behalf of Nextbase at 80 London junctions. 1,250 road users observed

The study was carried out to test if red lights were still being respected at all in London.

Junctions are some of the most dangerous spots on UK roads, with 41 per cent of all reported serious injuries of cyclists occurring at or within 20 metres of a junction, according to DfT road casualty statistics.

Elephant & Castle was among the worst for both running red lights and distracted drivers, while almost no cyclists or e-Scooter riders bothered to stop at the red light at Streatham High Road & Greyhound Lane (93.5 per cent running the red light).

Walworth Road & East Street saw a shocking 38 per cent of drivers distracted by phones or other activities while at the traffic lights.

Commenting on the findings, James Luckhurst, founder of road safety campaign group Project Edward (Every Day Without A Road Death), said: 'As a regular visitor to London, I am concerned to see motorcyclists, e-scooter riders and cyclists blatantly running red lights on London's streets.

'They are unnecessarily putting themselves and others at serious risk just to steal a few seconds of advantage.

'Ignoring traffic signals is not only illegal, but extremely dangerous, showing a wanton disregard for traffic laws and public safety. Traffic lights apply to everyone on the road, as well as to pedestrians waiting to cross.

'My message is for everyone who uses the capital's roads to take responsibility for their own safety and play their part to help drive down deaths and injuries.'

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