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Tier has teamed up with the AA’s DriveTech to launch an e-scooter theory test.
The test will be accompanied by Tier’s Ride Safe School, an e-learning platform co-designed with AA’s DriveTech to educate people around e-scooter safety and responsible use.
Riders will be incentivised to sign up to the online school – where they can complete safety modules, watch video demonstrations featuring AA president Edmund King and take the test – by being offered a free ride on one of Tier’s e-scooters.
“E-scooters could be an important innovation to transform mobility in town and city centres,” said King. “I am really pleased that our road training business, DriveTech, is working in conjunction with Tier. Road safety is key and their novel e-scooter safety features – such as an integrated foldable helmet, larger front wheel and direction indicators all help ensure a safer riding experience. The AA and DriveTech see great synergies with our own road safety ethos.”
On the platform, riders will be schooled on skills such as how to operate and park Tier’s e-scooters, while also being taught how to safely share designated routes with other vehicles, pedestrians and vulnerable road users. Following the training, users will be invited to complete the theory test. Some of the questions riders will be asked include:
– What is the best/preferred route to choose to use your Tier e-scooter?
– Why is it important to park responsibly?
Tier also recently committed to adding a sound to its vehicles to alert the blind and partially sighted of their approach and will be working with charity Thomas Pocklington Trust to design the new feature.
“The safety of our riders and the wider community is our number one priority and we’re very proud to have introduced the most comprehensive e-scooter safety programme on the market,” said Fred Jones, general manager, UK and Ireland. “Working with the AA and their DriveTech team, we have raised the standards for responsible e-scooter use while continuing to promote it as an easy, sustainable way of getting from A to B.”
Charlie Norman, managing director of DriveTech, added: “We increasingly recognise that road and cycle networks are to be shared with different types of road users. E-scooters are a relatively new phenomena in the UK, but one whose presence will grow and grow if implemented correctly.
“We are experts in road safety and have been training drivers and other road users for over 30 years. This experience tells us that we need a strong road safety and risk management message conveyed to all e-scooter users, in order for this new form of mobility to fulfil its potential. We are delighted to work with Tier to achieve this. E-scooters can offer a lot to urban mobility, but we don’t want this to be at the expense of safety.”
