Can You Be Fined For Running an EV Charging Cable Over the Pavement?

Could someone sue you if they trip over your EV charging cable? Possibly is the answer and your Home insurance might not cover defending that legal action, unless you have the right Legal protection add-on in place. In the end, all insurance is a contract with specified terms of what is, or is NOT, covered. So it pays to check before trailing a cable across the pavement at night.

Then there’s the scenario of the local Council taking action if a pedestrian is injured by your cable. There isn’t a specific penalty for EV cable offences, but the rules most Councils follow are about causing obstruction on the pavement, or a hazard. That’s how they stop cafe owners or other small shops from placing advert boards on pavements. Most likely, you would be warned by letter, but you might be fined if your Council is especially keen on raising revenue from homeowners with EV vehicles outside and no driveway.

Here’s some advice from Quotezone on the topic;

The car insurance experts from Quotezone.co.uk say many electric vehicle (EV) drivers, who don’t have a driveway, may be unaware of hazards caused by running a cable over public footpaths or highways. Government data shows most EV drivers charge at home overnight, with almost all survey respondents (93%), saying they had access to home charging – 90% of which charged overnight, making loose cables over pavements a potential concern for many homes without a driveway.

Although it’s not illegal to run an EV cable across a pavement, if it causes injuries to a pedestrian then the owner can be found liable and may be prosecuted. Running a cable over a path poses a potential hazard for pedestrians who may trip over the wires and injure themselves, which could lead to legal action.

SOLUTIONS?

The Kerbo solution is a groove cut into the pavement, so the cable fits flush and doesn’t trip people up – it could work for a few years although winter frosts or general wear might expose part of the cable in time, see pic from Kerbo below;

In certain areas, drivers may also need to obtain permission from the local council to run cables across a public path.

The Highway Act also gives local councils the power to remove any cables on the pavement they think could be dangerous.

Another solution is Chargearm, which places the cable above most people’s head height, although you still need a large metal post outside your house, see pic below;

WARNING SIGN NEEDED?

In 2022 rule 239 of the Highway Code was updated to state drivers should park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for pedestrians using trailing cables. It also suggests displaying a warning sign and after charging, returning the cables and connectors to minimise the danger to pedestrians and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users.

Besides posing a trip hazard, the cables can also lead to fires if daisy-chained together and pose an electrocution risk if left outside in the rain.

The warning comes after a survey by the insurance comparison experts revealed over half of Britons are not planning to make the switch to driving an electric car.  Interestingly, one in five (21%) said their reluctance was down to the charging infrastructure not being good enough, with four per cent blaming the cost of installing a home charging device.

Greg Wilson, CEO and electric car insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “As the number of electric vehicles increases, we have to look at the challenges many face with charging.

“Without off-street parking, it can be tricky to charge your EV safely and owners need to be careful they don’t put themselves and pedestrians at risk. Steps such as remaining with the vehicle and covering the cables will help make it safer, but cables running across the path is not ideal and the only option for many.

“Installing a cable gully is a good way to overcome this problem – but drivers will need council permission. We’d encourage EV owners to look at alternative ways of charging including public charging stations and any on-street charging points. As of April 2023, ‘on street’ charging devices accounted for 34% of charging devices. They may not be directly outside your home, but if it’s a fast speed charger, it shouldn’t take too long.

“Ultimately, safety is paramount however you charge your vehicle, and hopefully the government’s increased investments in the UK charging infrastructure will open up many other charging possibilities for drivers across the country.”