The Electric Scooter Trials and Traffic Signs (Coronavirus) Regulations and General Directions 2020

Amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999

4.—(1) The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 3 (interpretation)—

(a) after the definition of “dual purpose vehicle”, insert—

““electric scooter” means a category Q vehicle which—

(a)

is fitted with an electric motor with a maximum continuous power rating not exceeding 500 watts;

(b)

is not fitted with pedals that are capable of propelling the vehicle;

(c)

has two wheels, one front and one rear, aligned along the direction of travel;

(d)

is designed to carry no more than one person;

(e)

has a maximum weight, excluding the driver, not exceeding 55 kilograms;

(f)

has a maximum design speed not exceeding 15.5 miles per hour;

(g)

has a means of directional control through the use of handlebars which are mechanically linked to the steered wheel;

(h)

has a means of controlling the speed through hand controls; and

(i)

has a power control that defaults to the ‘off’ position;”;

(b) after the definition of “large vehicle theory test pass certificate”, insert—

““local public authority” means—

(a)

in England and Wales, any body, other person or holder of any office listed in Part 2 (local government) of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and

(b)

in Scotland, any body, other person or holder of any office listed in Part 3 (local government) of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002;”; and

(c) after the definition of “training load package”, insert—

““trial” means an assessment as to the suitability of electric scooters for use on roads conducted by virtue of—

(a)

an order made under sections 44 and 63(5) of the Traffic Act; or

(b)

an arrangement made between one or more local public authorities and a person who hires out electric scooters;”.

(3) In regulation 5 (classes for which licences may be granted)—

(a) in paragraph (5), for “A licence” substitute “Subject to paragraph (5A), a licence”; and

(b) after paragraph (5), insert—

“(5A) A provisional licence may be granted for a class included in category AM, A or B which includes authorisation to drive an electric scooter being used in a trial.”.

(4) In regulation 6 (competence to drive classes of vehicle: general)—

(a) after paragraph (2A), insert—

“(2B) Where a person holds a relevant provisional licence, the holder is authorised to drive an electric scooter being used in a trial.”; and

(b) after paragraph (3), insert—

“(4) In this regulation, “relevant provisional licence” means a provisional licence granted under Part III of the Traffic Act, a full Northern Ireland licence or a Community licence.”.

(5) In regulation 16 (conditions attached to provisional licences), after paragraph (4), insert—

“(4A) When the holder of the provisional licence is driving an electric scooter being used in a trial the condition specified in paragraph 2(b) shall not apply.”.

(6) In regulation 19 (full licences and provisional entitlement), in paragraph (4), after “category Q vehicle” insert “other than an electric scooter being used in a trial”.

(7) In regulation 43 (entitlement upon passing a test other than an appropriate driving test), in paragraph (5)—

(a) after sub-paragraph (a)(ii)(bb), omit “or”; and

(b) at the end of sub-paragraph (a)(iii)(bb) insert—

“; or

(iv) the vehicles in category Q are electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(8) In Schedule 2, in Part 1 (categories and sub-categories of vehicle for licensing purposes), in column 2 of the table—

(a) opposite the reference to category AM, listed in column (1), after “Mopeds” insert “, electric scooters being used in a trial”;

(b) opposite the reference to category A, listed in column (1), after “Motor bicycles” insert “, electric scooters being used in a trial”;

(c) opposite the reference to category A1, listed in column (1), for “and A1 motor tricycles” substitute “, A1 motor tricycles and electric scooters being used in a trial”;

(d) opposite the reference to category A2, listed in column (1), after “motorcycles” insert “and electric scooters being used in a trial”;

(e) opposite the reference to category A3, listed in column (1), for “and A3 motor tricycles” substitute “, A3 motor tricycles and electric scooters being used in a trial”; and

(f) opposite the reference to category B, listed in column (1), after “category Q,” insert “which are not electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(1)

S.I. 1999/2864, amended by 2012/977.