As students return from winter break, they’re being told to leave one of the holiday season’s hottest items at home.
An increasing number of schools (more than 30 by one estimate) are banning hoverboards on their campuses as safety concerns surrounding the devices mount, according to the Washington Post.
Federal fire officials have warned schools about the devices, which have been reported to spontaneously catch fire. Additionally, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating 29 fires around the country that are suspected to have been caused by the hoverboards.
Some schools are banning the devices from entire campuses while others, such as Louisiana State and the University of Iowa, are banning them from specific buildings or dorms. At least two schools, Ohio State and Xavier, are requiring safety permits if students are bringing them on campus. New York City has also banned the devices on its streets.
Officials said statewide bans of the devices on public universities are also a possibility.
Other schools that have banned hoverboards include American University, George Washington University, Wellesley College, Kean College, Shawnee State University, University of Kentucky, University of Connecticut and the University of Alabama.
