Leading shared e-scooter and e-bike firm Tier will introduce anti drink-riding tests on its machines in London across the peak of the Christmas party season.
On the days it is active, users aiming to rent an e-scooter or e-bike in the UK capital will have to take an accuracy test in the firm’s app before they can hire a machine.
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The test has been developed by Tier based on research from analysts at Innovationbubble to target the behavioural changes that occu when someone it drunk.
Jess Hall, Tier’s UK head of cities, said: “Drink-riding puts the rider and other members of the public in increased danger and can lead to riders incurring points on their driving licence.
Are e-scooters legal in the UK? Move Electric's definitive guide
“As an extra layer of protection beyond our existing night-time messaging, we are introducing our in-house developed in-app accuracy test to ensure people are fit to ride.”
To legally use a rental e-scooter in the UK, riders must hold a provisional or full driving licence. Because e-scooters are classed as powered vehicles, the same penalties for riding one while drunk apply as for a car or motorcycle – which means drunk riders could face court-imposed fines, a driving ban and potentially imprisonment.
The campaign has been backed by the AA’s Drivetech arm, which runs the digital rider training modules that Tier offers to UK users. The firm also partners with taxi-hailing app Free Now, and will encourage its users who plan on drinking to book a ride home through its app.
In a further push to encourage safe riding from its users, Tier users can receive a £5 discount on the cost of a helmet from Electric Scooter Heads, which offers a range of head protection featuring rechargeable lights to boost visibility at night.
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