NEARLY a dozen people were injured in crashes involving e-scooters in Essex last year, figures have revealed as the ecofriendly form of transport rises in popularity.

An e-scooter hire trial was launched by Spin in Basildon last December with the scooters regularly seen whizzing along the town’s streets.

Data from the Department of Transport has revealed 10 people were hurt in e-scooter crashes in Essex last year.

However, the figures do not distinguish between incidents involving privately-owned e-scooters and rental ones.

The DfT said the figures are likely to relate largely to private use.

Kerry Smith, Independent Basildon councillor, fears there are more incidents that are not reported by people involved.

He said: “I still think this number is a lot lower that what it really is and I guess these are the worse cases and incidents.

“The trials started when the weather was better and lighter and we had a nice dry spring but now the roads are getting wetter and will be icy and slippery.

“There is a reason why these scooters are banned on the highways and I think they are not safe.

“We need a public consultation and also they need to get the views of our borough councillors too.

“I do not support the use of them and think they are dangerous. The scooters are meant to be on the road.”

He has called for additional enforcement and education around the use of e-scooters.

The Government said ministers had recently written to all major e-scooter retailers reminding them of their responsibility to inform customers of the law when selling the vehicles.

One person – an e-scooter rider – was killed and 128 people were seriously injured following crashes across Britain last year.

The DfT warned many nonfatal casualties may have gone unrecorded nationally because there is no obligation to report such incidents to police forces.

A DfTransport spokesman added: “Safety will always be our top priority and the trials currently taking place in 31 regions across England are allowing us to better understand the benefits of e-scooters and their impact on public space.

“Evidence from the trials will allow government to consider how best to desi