Motorists "at their wits' end" with e-scooter drivers in Kilkenny

Local motorists are currently "at their wits' end" with e-scooter drivers, a prominent local councillor has stated.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick, made the comment at a recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee at County Hall.

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“They’re flying around Kilkenny on these e-scooters at the moment, often in the dark, with absolutely no safety measures taken into account,” he said.

“An e-scooter sped by the inside of my van at Henebry's Cross recently which we know is a very dangerous road already,” he added.

“At the very least, these e-scooter drivers must be told to brighten their clothing.”

Cllr Eugene McGuinness then told committee members that he has seen e-scooters with ‘two, and sometimes even three’ people on them.

He described the behaviour of some local e-scooter drivers as ‘very dangerous’ and asked if any action can be taken by gardaí to combat this.

Councillor Joe Malone also expressed his concern that some people may be using e-scooters to move drugs around the city.

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Superintendent Aidan Brennan acknowledged to committee members that e-scooters are ‘no longer toys’.

Brennan also made the point that e-scooter drivers are a ‘very vulnerable road user’ as they have ‘almost no side profile’ and people ‘can get knocked off them very easily’.

He told committee members that e-scooters are a ‘new mode of transport’ that is still currently in a ‘legal grey area’ but added that gardaí would welcome legislation to govern their use.