Safety when charging

Somerset Council recognises the significant benefits of electric vehicles, particularly in relation to air quality and public health, and that usage of electric vehicles by our residents is increasing. However, it is important to consider public safety when placing the cable from the power supply in your home to your vehicle and it is the resident’s responsibility to ensure that the cable does not cause a danger or nuisance to the public.

If you do charge your car at home, we would like to bring to your attention the following:

• Charging your vehicle on the street by trailing a cable across the pavement is not permitted.
• Cables across the path, or hanging overhead are a hazard, and it is an offence under The Highways Act to place wires or other apparatus across a path that are likely to post a danger to the public.
• You are potentially liable if someone were to trip and injure themselves, you could be held responsible.
• At present our advice is that people should not trail cables across public highways in any manner, including the use of a cable protector, cable ramp or any adaptive infrastructure which could pose a trip hazard to pedestrians.
• We are staying current with any new guidance from the government. Our advice on trailing cables will be revised as new policies and procedures are introduced.

The Council recognise that not everyone has off street parking and are in the process of compiling a list of locations where electric vehicles users can charge their vehicle. Information is also available on the Zap Map website.