Mustafa Nadeem’s friend had transferred an adult’s account app on to their phone before unlocking the e-scooter, the inquest heard
By Vanessa Pearce & Phil Mackie & Joanne Writtle
BBC News, West Midlands
A rental e-scooter used by a 12-year-old who was killed in a crash had been unlocked by a friend with an under-16 bank account, an inquest has heard.
Mustafa Nadeem had been riding on a pavement on 6 December and collided with a pedestrian before falling into the path of a bus in Birmingham.
His inquest heard he died from multiple injuries.
The e-scooter trial legally requires riders to be 18+, and was run by Voi, until the contract ended in February.
The Birmingham scheme’s website stated riders must hold a provisional or full driving licence, however Mustafa’s 14-year-old friend had transferred a Voi account app from a parent to unlock the e-scooter using a verification code received on the original handset.
Facial recognition software
In a tribute, Mustafa’s parents described him as a “loving boy”, adding: “His pure innocent soul lit up the streets of our neighbourhood and without him everything seems so dull.”
The family told Birmingham and Solihull Coroner’s Court they wanted e-scooter operators to use facial recognition software to ensure users were over 18.
A trial to test the technology is under way in the French city of Lyon.
Jack Samler, a general manager at Voi, told the inquest that when accounts were set up, both a driving licence and a photo of the user were required.
However, the hearing was also told schoolchildren had been seen riding the machines locally even after Mustafa’s death.
Image source, Family
Mustafa’s parents described him as a loving boy, whose “soul lit up the streets”
Coroner James Bennett said the family had suffered every parent’s nightmare.
He said he would send a prevention of future deaths report to the transport secretary and to the West Midlands mayor Andy Street.
He said such a report was designed to improve future safety, adding that Voi had not cut any corners and had used similar practices to other providers.
The inquest was told Mustafa, who was on his way to school, was breaking the law by riding on the pavement.
West Midlands Police investigator Det Sgt Paul Hughes described how CCTV showed the bus had stopped to drop off a passenger who Mustafa collided with near a pedestrian crossing.
Both the bus and e-scooter were “well below the speed limit,” he told the court.
‘Extra checks’
A decision had been made not prosecute the 14-year-old for permitting someone to use a motor vehicle without a licence or insurance as it was not in the public interest, Det Sgt Hughes added.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Samler described the death as “a tragic accident”, adding his thoughts were with Mustafa’s family.
“We have an extra ID verification check in place over and above Department for Transport requirements, to prevent misuse of our e-scooters by people younger than 18 years old,” he said.
“We will review the conclusions of the coroner and work with the Department for Transport to see if there is anything more we and the industry can do to ensure underage people aged do not ride e-scooters.”
A new e-scooter operator has been chosen for Birmingham, but the city’s trial was paused pending the outcome of Thursday’s inquest.
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