Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward following a fail-to-stop collision in Poole.
Dorset Police received a report at 4.40am on Monday, 5 May 2025, of a road traffic collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle in Wallisdown Road at the junction with Kinson Road.
It is reported that the vehicle – described as possibly an e-scooter – failed to stop at the scene.
The male pedestrian, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that are described as serious but not life-threatening or life-changing.
Police Sergeant Scott McFarland, of Dorset Police, said, “We are carrying out enquiries into this collision, and I am keen to speak to anyone in the area who saw what happened.
“If you were driving along Wallisdown Road around the relevant time with a dashcam, I would ask you to please check your footage for anything that may assist my investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55250063317. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
The Growing Issue With E-Scooters
The UK has experienced a troubling rise in collisions involving electric scooters, highlighting serious shortcomings in regulation, infrastructure, and public awareness. While e-scooters are promoted as eco-friendly and efficient alternatives for urban transport, their rapid introduction has outpaced the legal and physical framework needed to ensure safe integration. According to Department for Transport statistics, e-scooter collisions rose to over 1,500 in 2023, resulting in multiple fatalities and hundreds of serious injuries. In one widely reported incident in Nottingham, a 71-year-old woman died after being struck by an e-scooter ridden illegally on the pavement, a stark example of the risks posed to vulnerable pedestrians.
Much of the danger stems from widespread misuse and unclear legal boundaries. Privately owned e-scooters, which are illegal on public roads and pavements, continue to be used without consequence in many areas. Riders often operate them without helmets, carry passengers, or ride under the influence of alcohol — behaviours rarely penalised due to limited enforcement. In London, the Metropolitan Police reported a 500% increase in incidents involving e-scooters between 2020 and 2023, yet convictions or fines remain comparatively rare. The lack of a licensing or training requirement means that many users, including teenagers, treat e-scooters more like toys than vehicles, putting themselves and others at serious risk.
Despite pilot rental schemes in cities like Birmingham and Bristol aiming to promote safe use, critics argue that these trials have done little to stem the tide of unsafe riding. While some operators have introduced geofencing and speed restrictions, these measures are easily circumvented or ineffective in practice. More importantly, the UK still lacks a coherent national strategy for e-scooter integration, with no clear plan for building dedicated infrastructure or enforcing consistent rules across regions. Until policymakers move beyond fragmented trials and adopt a comprehensive regulatory framework, collisions will likely continue to rise, with tragic consequences.
