New electric scooters that automatically turn off once they mount the pavement have been approved for use in Britain. The American-designed e-scooters use sensors to cut power when entering prohibited zones such as footpaths and shopping centres.
They are disabled within a second of leaving a road, cycle lane or private land where the devices are legally allowed.
This is thanks to mapping data that is downloaded directly on to the scooter, meaning it doesn’t have to use GPS.
Current e-scooters in the UK take as long as 30 seconds to deactivate when entering prohibited territory.
It is hoped that the new devices from US firm Link will curb antisocial behaviour associated with scooters in Britain.
The electric scooters are disabled within a second of leaving a road, cycle lane or private land where the devices are legally allowed (file photo)
UK trials have been mired in controversy, with Coventry suspending its scheme after riders used scooters on pavements and in shopping centres.
Link is bidding to rent out their scooters through two schemes, with one in London and one covering Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
The one-second shutdown has been billed as the fastest of its kind, as it is understood that current e-scooters in the UK take as long as 30 seconds to deactivate when entering prohibited territory.
Link, founded by urban transport experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, say the scooters shut down in a controlled manner and instantly alert drivers to the fault.
Measures are also in place to ensure they do not shut down unsafely such as in the middle of a junction.
Back in July, the government approved the limited legalisation of e-scooters - despite a public backlash.
The new legislation dictates that all e-scooters on the roads must be hired from licensed rental companies to ensure they meet design standards.
Scooters are also limited to 15.5 mph and can only be used on low-speed roads and in bike lanes while they are banned on pavements and other pedestrianised areas.
Trials for conventional e-scooters have begun in several areas including Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Coventry and Northampton.
Scooters are also limited to 15.5 mph and can only be used on low-speed roads and in bike lanes while they are banned on pavements and other pedestrianised areas (file photo)
However the trials have been mired in controversy with Coventry suspending its rental scheme last month after under-age riders used the scooters on pavements and in shopping centres.
Two teenagers in Middlesbrough meanwhile were seen using an e-scooter along the 70mph A19.
A shopping centre in the area put up warning signs after claims shoppers were being terrorised by riders zipping past.
MPs on the Commons transport committee last week urged the government to legalise e-scooters across the country.
However they agreed enforcements needed to be put in place to ‘eliminate’ antisocial behaviour.
Current e-scooters do use ‘geofencing’ technology to prevent users from riding in unauthorised zones but it is claimed these can take up to 30 seconds.
This is because the scooter must send GPS data to a central cloud system which then computes the location and sends a command back to the scooter.
Link claims its technology accounts for local GPS inaccuracies and all the data is loaded directly onto the scooter, eliminating a time lag.