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As Transport for London considers increasing speed limits for electric scooters and lowering the age limit to 16, a new study has found that cyclists are much more likely to ignore red lights than any other road user. , including cyclists.
According to research carried out on behalf of dash cam company Nextbase, two in five e-scooters observed at 80 different busy junctions in the capital ran red lights.
That compares with 28 percent of cyclists who ignored red stop signs at busy intersections.
Electric scooter users are more likely to run red lights at busy intersections, according to a new London study commissioned by Nextbase
Nextbase commissioned dozens of researchers to observe 80 different London intersections over a period of several hours, recording the behavior of more than 12,500 road users.
It undertook the project having “continually received feedback” from its dash cam users about the large number of drivers and cyclists running red lights.
However, he said there is a “lack of statistical evidence” to support these claims.
Market research agency Shepper carried out the research and its team witnessed 144 electric scooter users in total. Of them, 60 ran red lights at busy intersections.
The researchers counted a total of 2,509 cyclists. Of them, 697 witnessed failure to stop when the traffic light was red.
Researchers at 80 congested intersections in the capital witnessed the presence of 144 electric scooter users in total. Of them, 60 ran the red light at busy intersections, which is 41%.
The researchers counted a total of 2,509 cyclists. Of them, 697 witnessed failure to stop when the traffic light was red.
The increased likelihood of e-scooter riders ignoring red lights in London is a major concern, especially as Sadiq Khan’s transport bosses are reportedly ‘considering’ increasing the top speed of e-scooters to 15 .5 mph and reduce the age limit for drivers to 16 years old.
This proposal is being considered despite 35 people having been hospitalized in London with “serious injuries” since trials of electric scooter rentals began in the capital in 2021 as part of a “green transport revolution”.
Currently, the almost 5,000 rental scooters in London cannot exceed a speed of 20 km/h.
Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase, said the investigation was “not designed to target cyclists or electric scooter drivers” but was carried out to “highlight how a minority of these road users are putting themselves in danger.” grave danger.”
He said: ‘Crossroads can be very dangerous places and should be treated with respect. It doesn’t matter if you’re a driver, cyclist, or on an electric scooter: running a 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 “concerned about liability” in cases where collisions occur at junctions when other road users ignore red lights should consider investing in a dash cam, which “ “always provide a neutral record of who exactly is at fault in the event of an accident.”
The increased likelihood of e-scooter users ignoring red lights in London is a major concern, especially as Sadiq Khan’s transport bosses are reportedly “considering” increasing the top speed of e-scooters to 15.5mph and reduce the age limit for users to 16 years.
Motorists also break the law at intersections
But while Bryn said motorists should use the technology to protect themselves against claims, a small percentage of car, van and lorry drivers were also found to be breaking the law at busy junctions.
Of the 9,880 drivers recorded, more than one in ten (11 percent) were distracted in some way while traveling at intersections, including 4 percent who were observed using their mobile phones.
This is despite the introduction of much stricter rules on “touching” handheld devices while in control of a vehicle, with the punishment for being caught increasing in 2017 to six points and a minimum £200 fine.
Other distractions included eating and drinking, as well as smoking and vaping while driving.
The dangers at intersections
The study was carried out to see if red traffic lights were still observed in London.
Junctions are some of the most dangerous places on UK roads: 41 per cent of all reported serious injuries to cyclists occur at or within 20 meters of a junction, according to DfT road accident statistics.
Elephant & Castle was among the worst for both red light running and distracted drivers, while almost no cyclists or e-scooter drivers bothered to stop at red lights on Streatham High Road and Greyhound Lane (the 93, 5 percent ran the red light).
Walworth Road and East Street saw a staggering 38 per cent of drivers distracted by phones or other activities while at 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, electric scooter drivers and cyclists. shamelessly running red lights on the streets of London.
“They are unnecessarily putting themselves and others at serious risk just to steal a few seconds of advantage.
‘Ignoring traffic signs is not only illegal, but also extremely dangerous, as it shows a wanton disregard for traffic laws and public safety. Traffic lights apply to all people on the road, as well as pedestrians waiting to cross.
“My message is to everyone using the capital’s roads to take responsibility for their own safety and play their part in helping to reduce deaths and injuries.”
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