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Anthony Devlin/PA Archive

You need a driver's licence to use these weird-looking scooters

They’ve been banned in London, but what’s the law surrounding self-balancing scooters in Ireland?

SELF-BALANCING SCOOTERS have been made illegal to ride on roads or footpaths in London, with local police sending out a warning to anyone who planned to ride one around the city.

Tweet by @MPS Specials MPS Specials / Twitter MPS Specials / Twitter / Twitter

For those unfamiliar, self-balancing scooters function the same way as segways, except there’s no handle for the rider to hold. They’re also smaller and their top speed usually ranges around 10km/h.

But if you were thinking of getting one here, you may want to hold off as the laws are similar here.

In short, self-balancing scooters are treated the same way as Segways and therefore prohibited from driving on both roads, footpaths and cycle lanes.

Self-balancing scooters fall under the category of mechanically propelled vehicles, which means the Garda Síochána has the last word on whether they’re allowed or not.

What about Ireland?

When asked about the laws surrounding self-balancing scooters, a garda spokesperson said under existing law, it’s illegal to use one on Irish roads or footpaths, but stated that the issue was “being kept under review by the Department of Transport in the context of our examination of sustainable modes of transport”.

There are exceptions to riding one in a public place, like Phoenix Park, although it comes with a number of requirements. For one, you must have a driver’s licence and have third-party insurance to cover potential injury or property damage, ensure it meets safety requirements and you must wear a helmet when operating one.

Also, it’s recommended you check first before you bring one to a public place as it can vary.

When asked about their policy on the matter, Dublin City Council stated that since they fall under the remit of road traffic, it’s up to the Garda Síochána to decide what to do with them. Cork City Council was also contacted but have yet to respond at time of publication.

Read: Now you can really explore the world without leaving your home >

Read: Two of Ireland’s biggest tech employers are getting together in a colossal merger >

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    Sep 13th 2016, 3:54 PM

    i love how everyone pot shots Apple but say’s nothing bad about Android or Samsung. sorry but this shocking neglect of product testing.

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    Mute Neal not Neil
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    Sep 13th 2016, 3:58 PM

    Android is numereous different phones and brands, some of which are great and some of which are terrible. Android itself is unlikely to go on fire as it is not a phond.

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    Sep 13th 2016, 5:04 PM

    And it’s not shocking how Apple run a proprietary based outfit.. Silly Airpods that cost €180, €9 for a cable you’ll loose continually because they ditched the headphone jack.. And not forgetting Apple’s woeful battery life.

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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:12 PM

    Think I’ll wait for the note 8 thanks :-)

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    Sep 13th 2016, 5:09 PM

    Wish they’d hurry up and fix things then get supply fixed…i want a Note 7.

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    Sep 13th 2016, 5:24 PM

    It sounds a bit like Russian roulette to me.

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    Sep 13th 2016, 7:23 PM

    Removing the battery works best of all.

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    Sep 13th 2016, 5:42 PM

    A quicker fix to prevent your Note 7 from exploding – yank it open with a screwdriver and remove the battery.

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    Mute William O' Connor
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    Sep 13th 2016, 5:41 PM

    at least its better than some irish mobile companies who told you to turn off the phone and at your expense send it back to them and leave you without one!

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