Did you get an e-scooter for Christmas?
The Queensland Police Service is urging parents to remind their children to be cautious while riding their e-scooters, as the number of lives lost involving these devices has more than doubled in the last year.
QPS reported that as of 18 December 2024, eight lives have been lost on Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs), such as e-scooters and e-skateboards, compared to two lives lost in 2023.
The growing use of PMDs has caused community concern due to the dangerous operation which can result in serious injuries and sometimes, tragically, death.
Police are committed to enforcement and engagement activities to ensure the safe use of these devices, with more than 1,700 infringements issued to date this year for failing to wear a helmet whilst riding a PMD and over 183 infringements for speeding.
QPS Road Policing Group Acting Inspector Gareth Bosley said that police were noticing the increase of devastating incidents involving PMDs.
“E-scooters may seem like a great gift to put under the Christmas tree, but they come with significant risks, especially for younger and less experienced users,” Acting Inspector Bosley said.
“It’s essential parents and carers consider the legalities of e-scooters, as these cannot be operated by a person under 16 years-of-age without adult supervision, while those under 12 years of age are not legally allowed to operate them at all”.
“If you are gifting a PMD this Christmas, make sure the receiver understands the rules they have to adhere to, otherwise they’ll be seeing police this summer”.
“Safety must always come first.”
For those who do choose to ride PMDs, police stress the importance of:
– Wearing appropriate safety gear, including helmets.
– Riding responsibly and operating within the road rules.
– Being vigilant and cautious, particularly around roads and pedestrians.
This summer, the penalties for misuse are:
Speeding – up to $619
No helmet – $154
Using a phone – $1,161
Double riding – $154
Riding on a prohibited road – $185
QPS will continue to work with road safety partners to raise awareness, improve road safety, and advocate for behaviours that keep Queensland roads safe.
