Transport for London (TfL) has said that a government review to allow electric scooters being allowed on UK roads should be accelerated.

Safeguards should be introduced with maximum speeds and restrictions over where they can and cannot be ridden, if the Department for Transport (DfT) ends the ban.

In March the DfT launched a review of legislation which may see electric scooters being legalised.

TfL’s director of transport innovation Michael Hurwitz told the PA, “We need the Department for Transport to accelerate their review to really put some safeguards around their use.”

He wants the speed limits to be restricted to 12mph citing rules that Germany has introduced.

Under the 1835 Highways Act it is an offence to use electric scooters anywhere in a public space as they do not comply with the motorised vehicle requirements such as insurance, tax and driver testing.

Hurwitz said it is “a bit of an understatement to say the law is out of date,” adding the popularity of e-scooters has been “coming for years.”

Last week the Metropolitan Police caught nearly 100 riders in Islington.