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Four users of the devices were killed this year compared with one last year and none in 2021.
The number of pedal cyclists killed so far this year is seven, the same as the number of cyclists who died on Irish roads last year and in 2021.
Colm Ryder of the Irish cycling advocacy network Cyclist.ie said some e-scooters and bikes can reach speeds of up to 45kmh and that new legislation is being brought in which will mean any e-bike or scooter that can travel over 25kmh, or which has a maximum continuous rated power greater than 250W, will have to be registered and insured.
They will also not be able to be used in cycle lanes.
Pedal-assisted electric bikes, also known as pedelecs, that have a maximum continuous output of 250W and which cut off at 25kmh, will still be viewed as bicycles under the legislation due to be enacted in the new year.
The move comes as part of the Government’s efforts to bring clarity to the legal position of e-bikes and e-scooters while used on the roads, as well as clarifying the responsibilities of their owners.
According to a recent Behaviour and Attitudes survey, the usage of e-scooters was at 3pc of the population as of mid-2022 and is likely to grow to 12pc.
“There are more e-scooters and e-bikes around, and that trend will continue as they become cheaper and more people are looking for an alternative to car travel, but if anyone is buying one for a child this Christmas they should ensure that they can’t exceed 25kmh and that whoever is using it is well lit up and protected,” said Mr Ryder.
Una Morrison, chair of the Dublin Cycling Campaign, echoed these views, saying e-bikes that use electric power up to a certain speed before the rider has to input pedal power are very useful, but she stressed that anyone using an e-scooter or e-bike should be appropriately lit up and wear a helmet.
Garda Inspector Ronan MacDonald at a roadside check outside Kilcock, Co Kildare. Photo: Steve Humphreys
She said they should also be mindful of travelling at a speed appropriate for conditions and being respectful of others on the roads.
Research presented by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) at its annual conference in October shows that a hospital-based study found 63pc of all cyclists hospitalised sustained their injuries in single-cyclist collisions, where no other vehicle was involved.
Some 38pc of injured cyclists sustained clinically serious lower-limb injuries, while 27pc sustained clinically serious head injuries.
Between January 1, 2022, and September 24 this year, the total number of e-scooter users injured was 51, with three of those fatally injured, and 48 e-scooter users seriously injured.
During the same period, 12 other road users were injured in a collision involving an e-scooter, one fatally and 11 seriously, according to the RSA.
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