Letter: A message for parents of e-scooter riders in the New Forest

A few days ago I was driving through Milford and heading out towards Keyhaven. In front of me were two young girls (11-13 years at a guess) riding an e-scooter on the road, and anybody that drives through the village will be aware of the appalling state of the road surface.

Travelling at around 15mph, the rider swerved in, out and around the indentations in the surface of the road, with no thought regarding oncoming traffic. The passenger was hanging on for dear life. Oncoming cars swerved and pulled over to allow room for the rider to use pretty much the whole width of the road. I followed them for about 1/2 mile before they turned into a driveway. With such tiny wheels I was amazed that they did not fall off.

Parents who allow their children to do this sort of thing defy any colourful description of their irresponsibility and stupidity, so if they read the letters page, here are some facts.

• £50 fine for using an unapproved e scooter in public.

• No licence will cost £100 and 3-6 penalty points

• No insurance will cost £300

• Riding on the pavement £50

• Using your phone whil in motion, £200, three penalty points your licence

• Too young to drive? No problem. Any points a young person gets can be carried forward to the day they pass their test, then added.

These are the basic offences, for more info put the words 'the Parenting Daily' into the search box on your computer. There is more info there.

John Walsh

Address supplied