At least four colleges in Connecticut are banning hoverboards because of potential safety issues and fire hazards. The move comes after more than sixteen hoverboard fires are under investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in thirteen states.
It is still unclear why some of the self-balancing scooters are catching on fire while being charged or in other cases as people are riding them. The popular hoverboards have been flying off store shelves and the Internet, as one of the most popular gift items of the 2015 holiday season.
"Sacred Heart University’s safety committee is in the process of instituting a ban on hoverboards or self-balancing boards due to the fire hazards they present, “Jeffrey J. Barrett, Sacred Heart University’s Risk Manager tells NBC Connecticut.
According to Dave Isgur at the University of Hartford, “The University has made the decision to ban hover boards from the residence halls on the University campus, but not the overall use of these items on campus. “
At the University of Bridgeport, Mary Jane Foster told NBC Connecticut, “After speaking with some students to gain feedback and discussing all of the options, it was decided that the hover boards will be named prohibited items on campus due to the fire concerns. We will send an email to all residential students as well as a hard copy letter to their homes shortly.”
The University of New Haven is banning hoverboards on campus as well.
Other school officials including at the University Of Connecticut stated they are reviewing the issue and will have a decision for their respective campus communities in early 2016. Meantime, Central Connecticut State University, Tunxis Community College, and Quinnipiac University are a few local colleges who do not have hoverboard bans.
