US CPSC finally and officially declares hoverboards unsafe
The writing has been on the wall for quite some time, but now it is on paper too. 2015 ended badly for the self-balancing, two-wheeled board, with many catching fire and harming their riders. Some manufacturers and a few retailers have started pulling what would be considered deathtraps on wheels, and now there is official government weight to those actions. In a letter to manufacturers, importers, and retailers, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission described these hoverboards as posing an unreasonable risk to fire. That is, unless they meet safety standards. Problem is, none of them currently do.
The almost inexplicable hype around the perhaps wrongly named hoverbaords has also brought it attention when a few of these contraptions started catching fire. That few soon ballooned to many, causing even airlines to ban the device from their flights. Naturally, there have been increasing alarm among consumers but until last week, the government hasn't officially put its foot down.
Most of the accidents involving hoverboards are caused by faulty batteries or electronics, but the CPSC and consumer welfare groups have also expressed concern about the overall design of these toys turned vehicles, whether they have been designed to take rider safety into consideration. For now, however the CPSC is only addressing the battery issues and recommends that conscious consumers only purchase hoverboards approved by the Underwriters Laboratories or UL.
That, however, isn't a viable answer for now. For one, the safety standards issued by the UL are completely voluntary, and the CPSC can only strongly recommend it. But more importantly, as of the moment, no hoverboard has been certified by UL yet. Certification process could take weeks, not to mention an undisclosed amount of money for fees and such. Given the US government's stamp of disapproval, however, well-meaning and legit hoverboard makers might have little choice but to comply. That is, if they want to sell products in the US. Other countries and markets may not be as meticulous in this regard.
VIA: CNET