The release of hoverboards really caught the attention of the public. With its unique design and impressive mobility functions, the hoverboard is definitely a fun ride. However, the idea of this is somehow being challenged by the Crown Prosecution Service of Britain. The CPS believed that hoverboards or any form self-balancing scooters are illegal to ride in public.
The Metropolitan Police also shared via their social media account that hoverboards are not allowed on public roads and pavements. Accordingly, such device can only be used in a private property with the permission of the landowner. And according to mashable the use of hoverboards "would contravene section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 in England and Wales and section 129(5) of the Roads Act 1984 in Scotland."
The Department for Transport also joined the CPS and MPS for their call to ban the use of hoverboards on public places. In their statement via mashable, the Department of Transport emphasized that;
"You can only ride an unregistered self-balancing scooter on land which is private property and with the landowner's permission, that appropriate safety clothing should be worn at all times" if you do ride one in private."
Despite the instruction given by authorities, one hoverboard distributor, Simon Benson of Ghetto Gadgets, still believes that such ruling will not affect his sales. In fact he believes that such warning will help boost his sales, he stated via theguardian that;
"If the authorities give any impression that the use of hoverboards in some circumstances is unlawful, then I expect sales to soar. Clearly customers need to take advice, but millennials are not going to take kindly to the authorities using a law that pre-dates the penny-farthing to tell them what they can or can't do on the streets of Britain."
What do you think about the warning given by authorities about the use of hoverboards? Feel free to share and comment below.
