KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Q
A
Q A
Why don’t cyclists get points for going through red lights?
Because they’re not motor vehicles. The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 is the piece of legislation that sets out the penalty
points/disqualifications drivers will receive, but these are reserved for motor vehicles and not for bicycles.
However, if a bicycle is electric, and its motor is above 250W and capable of propelling it at above 16mph, then that could be considered a motor vehicle, and the rider could get points.
Q A
Can I use my PDA whilst driving, if I use it just for accepting fares and not for making calls?
No. We all know that using a phone whilst driving is illegal, but the actual wording of the law is that it is an offence to use “a hand-
held mobile telephone or other hand-held interactive communication device”.
“Other hand-held interactive communication device” is defined as a device which is capable of trans- mitting or receiving data – whether those capabilities are enabled or not. Because a PDA device is capable of accepting and transmitting data, it would be considered a communication device, meaning that holding and using it whilst driving is an offence.
We therefore always recommend that any such devices are securely mounted in a cradle, and if for any reason you do need to pick it up – even because it’s fallen on the floor – that you pull over to the side of the road to do so.
PHTM JUNE 2026
Please can you advise me whether or not e-scooters are illegal?
Yes. Unless of course they are the official scooters available for hire. E-scooters are almost always considered ‘motor vehicles’
and so cannot be used on pavements, and cannot be used on the road without everything a motor vehicle needs (e.g. a licence, insurance, brakes, etc.).
We have dealt with hundreds of cases involving e- scooters where the riders have been prosecuted for driving without insurance, or even drink-driving where people were riding them whilst above the limit.
There are a few exceptions to this rule – for example, disability scooters and certain electric bicycles where the motor is only capable of propelling them at 15mph and has a lower power output of 250W. But generally speaking, any privately bought electric scooter should only be used on private property.
go all the way around the roundabout, and then signal left to take the exit you should have been queuing for. Is that illegal?
Q A
There’s no specific law to prevent this. But in certain circumstances it could be con- sidered “inconsiderate”, which is an offence
under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the same section that covers driving without due care and attention.
It is an offence if you cause ‘inconvenience to other road users’. So if a police officer sees you or if you are caught on dash cam using a roundabout in a way that is not intended, but simply to skip the queue, you could be prosecuted.
The offence carries the same sentence as driving without due care and attention, so minor cases would be dealt with by way of a driver improvement course or a fixed penalty of 3 points, but court cases could end up with up to 9 penalty points and a £1,000 fine.
69
My friend told me about ‘slingshotting’. Rather than queuing in traffic to turn left at a roundabout you cruise down the right lane,
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