The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 has finally been signed into law so what are the implications for e-scooters and e-bikes writes Geraldine Herbert What is the current situation with e-scooters? Despite the growing popularity of E-scooters they are currently illegal on Irish roads and this is due to the fact that they are classified in law as mechanically propelled vehicle or MPVs. In order for an MPV to be used legally on our roads, it needs to be taxed, insured, registered, and driven by someone with a license. However, it is not possible to tax, insure or register an E-scooter at the moment so they cannot meet the legal criteria for road usage.   The Road traffic act has been signed into law so are e-scooters now legal? No not yet, the new Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 creates a new category of vehicle namely powered personal transporters or PPTs. PPTs, including e-scooters that comply with new regulations, will be legally allowed on our roads. However,  the Act is a primary piece of legislation but the regulations known as secondary legislation will follow and it is not anticipated that this process will be complete until the end of the year so until then e-scooters will remain illegal.     What are the regulations? There are two types of regulations, technical and usage. The technical regulations are the regulatory standards that E-scooters for use on public roads must comply with to ensure that they are well-constructed and safe to use. In addition, vehicles must comply with power, speed and weight limits for e-scooters. E-scooters must -have a maximum continuous rated power output of 400W or less, – have a maximum net weight of 25kg (batteries inclusive), – have a maximum design speed of 20 km/h or less, – have wheels with a minimum diameter of 200mm, – be fitted with front and rear lights and reflectors, brakes and a bell, and – be fitted with a manufacturer’s plate certifying the power output, weight and design speed. Those e-scooters that comply with the technical regulations, will be permitted for use on Irish roads, subject to the following usage conditions: -You must be at least 16 years of age to use an e-scooter on public roads or in public places. – The carriage of goods will not be permitted. –...