Rider and Community Safety

We strive to make mobility safer and more sustainable for short urban trips. Zwings maintains a dialogue with representatives of the visually impaired and other key stakeholder groups to continually enhance the safety of our rental schemes.

RIDER EDUCATION

Zwings recognises that rider education and rule enforcement is essential to deliver any new transport service. We provide this through various communication channels both in person and digitally. For example, we are running safety workshops to show first-time riders how to use the e-vehicles safely and to remind them of the rules of the road. This is reinforced through in-app presentations and social media campaigns to remind riders of the rules of the road and the negative implications of misuse, including points on their license.

All riders must behave responsibly and in accordance with our Terms and Conditions of Rentals which can be seen here.

For riders who are reported to be scooting irresponsibly, Zwings has a 2 strike policy which can lead to a deactivation of the rider’s account and, under certain circumstances, will be reported to the police.

IRRESPONSIBLE RIDING AND ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT

Zwings strives to educate the community about the benefits of e-scooters, and how to use them responsibly, while providing a platform for all members of the community to easily raise questions, submit feedback, or offer suggestions for improvement. Zwings aims to respond to all queries in a fast and efficient manner. We are able to monitor community feedback via our various channels of communication, and respond to higher risk issues rapidly. Zwings has set time targets across all processes to ensure we offer a speedy service and immediately react to reports of irresponsible riding and accidents, helping to ensure the community can engage with the trial as positively as possible.

In the very rare case you are involved in an accident:

1. Check that you and any third party that may be involved are in a safe position out of harm’s way, as far as possible;
2. If necessary, seek medical support from your local emergency services by calling 999;
3. If any third parties are involved, then you should not leave the accident location nor admit blame;
4. You should stop if any property has been damaged or if anyone is injured, and provide your name, your address and insurance details (the insurer’s name is Zego and contact number for claims 0204 579 9859) to anyone who needs it. Similarly, you should ask any other third party who is involved for their name, address, and insurance details;
5. As soon as reasonably possible after any accident you should call our insurer Zego on 0204 579 9859 and provide details, including location, time, and whether any third parties were involved;
6. If you are able to, photograph the accident scene and any damage or injury involved;
7. You should not admit any fault or make any offers or promises to any third party that was involved without speaking to the insurer first.

IMPORTANT NOTE. If an underage user is able to somehow use a Zwings e-scooter then the insurer can still pay out for the claim in the case of an accident that is the fault of the scooter rider. Our insurer will seek to recover the costs of the claim from the user / person who rented the scooter. If a person fraudulently obtains access to the scooter, via a user or otherwise, the insurer will pay compensation to a third party but has a right to recover that money from the unapproved user.

DON’T DRINK AND RIDE 🚨

With pubs, bars and restaurants starting to re-open again after lockdown, we’re sure that like us, you can’t wait to get out and spend more time with friends, family or co-workers. To ensure both your own safety and that of others, it is vital that people do not drink or use drugs before getting on an e-scooter. Riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol or drugs is both illegal and very dangerous. E-scooters are covered by the same drinking and driving rules as other vehicles. If caught riding while above the legal limit or under the influence of drugs, the potential penalties may include:

• Six months imprisonment
• An unlimited fine
• Driving ban for at least one year, with a three-year ban if convicted twice in ten years

The safety of pedestrians, riders and other road users is our first priority. If you or someone you are meeting is thinking of riding an e-scooter, it is important that they are aware of the risks and dangers of riding over the limit.

IMPORTANT NOTE. If a user was to be intoxicated by alcohol or illegal substances and then had a crash the insurer would pay out for a claim from the third party, however the insurer would not pay any personal accident cover for the intoxicated user. The insurer may then seek recovery for the incurred claims costs from the user of the scooter following investigation.

 

RIDER TIPS: RIDE SAFELY, PARK RESPONSIBLY!

 

YOU MUST BE AGED 16+ AND HAVE A VALID DRIVING LICENSE

Non-qualifying riders are forbidden from using our rental e-scooters. Please ensure that only the rider who originally signed up with an authorised driving/moped licence is using the e-scooters. Assisting an unqualified rider to rent a Zwings e-scooter is illegal, and accounts found doing so will be suspended and reported to the police.

 

NEVER SCOOT ON THE PAVEMENT

Always scoot on the road or cycle lanes. Riding on the pavement or with another person is illegal and can lead to accidents. Failure to follow these rules will lead to a formal warning, account bans and the involvement of the police.

 

 

PARK PROPERLY AND ENSURE YOUR E-SCOOTER IS SECURE

When parking your vehicle, please travel to a designated e-scooter parking bay (which is labelled with a letter ‘P’ and a blue box on the Zwings app).

 

 

 

BE MINDFUL OF ROAD OBSTRUCTIONS

Avoid uneven surfaces like grass, gravel, rocks and potholes. Always be aware of surrounding traffic.

 

 

 

MAKE SURE YOU ARE VISIBLE

Ensuring riders are clearly visible by pedestrians and other road users is essential. Please wear hi-vis clothing, particularly when scooting at night.

 

 

 

WEAR A HELMET – SAFETY IS COOL!

You must put on a high quality helmet before riding an e-scooter.

 

 

 

For any questions regarding safety, please do reach out to us: support@zwings.co.uk

Please scoot safely and responsibly for the benefit of all residents in your community!