Over 15,000 'unsafe' hoverboards seized at UK borders
Maybe reconsider that Christmas present.
Self-balancing scooters. Hoverboards. Whatever you want to call them, they're now a smash-hit in Britain. Companies are now scrambling to offer cheaper and sleeker versions in time for Christmas, but there's a problem: the majority are unsafe, according to Trading Standards. Officers have examined more than 17,000 "hoverboards" at sea ports, airports and postal hubs since October 15th. Of these, more than 15,000, or 88 percent, were deemed dangerous due to "a range of concerns" related to internal batteries and cut-off switches, chargers, plugs and cabling.
Trading Standards says many are entering the UK with noncompliant plugs, meaning they're more likely to overheat, explode or catch fire. In October, the London Fire Brigade was called to two fires in two weeks -- one of which required four engines and 20 firefighters to extinguish.
Leon Livermore, CEO for the Chartered Trading Standards Institute says:
"Criminals and irresponsible manufacturers will often exploit high demand and attempt to flood the market with cheap and dangerous products. Consumers should not let a new fashion or craze cloud their judgement and remain vigilant at all times, to avoid taking home an unsafe product."
[Image Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]
