Photo: Instagram / Emily Hartridge
TV presenter, YouTube star and influencer Emily Hartridge, one of the first social media stars to gain popularity in the U.K., has died at the weekend in what is believed to be the country’s first fatal collision involving an e-scooter.
The announcement of her death was made on her Instagram page, and you will find it at the bottom of the page as well. It doesn’t mention anything else about the accident other than the fact that it claimed Emily’s life.
However, The Guardian notes that she was riding the e-scooter at a roundabout in Battersea, south-west London, when she was hit by a truck. Apparently, the roundabout has a history of fatal crashes involving cyclists, despite the fact that it recently received a separate lane just for them, which separates them from traffic. The layout was deemed “confusing,” according to the report.
Police have confirmed the fatal collision but, until the investigation is concluded, they can’t do the same about the victim’s identity. Hartridge’s death has also prompted a quick response from the country’s Ministry of Transport Michael Ellis, who wants companies sharing e-scooters to be more transparent with their customers.
In Britain, it is illegal to ride an e-scooter, Go-Ped, Segway, powered unicycle on the public roads. Or on the pavement, in the bicycle lane, for that matter. With all that, riders use both and, in the case of the former, they put themselves in grave danger.
“Micromobility products are appearing in countries across the globe and are an exciting innovation for which we know there is demand,” Ellis says, as cited by the same media outlet. “However, safety must always be our top priority when considering their use on public highways in this country.”
“We are examining whether they can be used safely on the road – and if so, how that should be regulated to ensure the public’s safety. However, companies must understand that reviewing laws does not necessarily mean laws will change,” Ellis adds. “People who use e-scooters need to be aware it is currently illegal to ride them on the pavement and the road.”
However, The Guardian notes that she was riding the e-scooter at a roundabout in Battersea, south-west London, when she was hit by a truck. Apparently, the roundabout has a history of fatal crashes involving cyclists, despite the fact that it recently received a separate lane just for them, which separates them from traffic. The layout was deemed “confusing,” according to the report.
Police have confirmed the fatal collision but, until the investigation is concluded, they can’t do the same about the victim’s identity. Hartridge’s death has also prompted a quick response from the country’s Ministry of Transport Michael Ellis, who wants companies sharing e-scooters to be more transparent with their customers.
In Britain, it is illegal to ride an e-scooter, Go-Ped, Segway, powered unicycle on the public roads. Or on the pavement, in the bicycle lane, for that matter. With all that, riders use both and, in the case of the former, they put themselves in grave danger.
“Micromobility products are appearing in countries across the globe and are an exciting innovation for which we know there is demand,” Ellis says, as cited by the same media outlet. “However, safety must always be our top priority when considering their use on public highways in this country.”
“We are examining whether they can be used safely on the road – and if so, how that should be regulated to ensure the public’s safety. However, companies must understand that reviewing laws does not necessarily mean laws will change,” Ellis adds. “People who use e-scooters need to be aware it is currently illegal to ride them on the pavement and the road.”
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