A crackdown on illegal e-mobility devices, greater law enforcement, enhanced rider protection and more education are the focus of RACQ’s submission to the State’s Parliamentary E- mobility Safety Inquiry.
The Club’s 23 recommendations include:
• Impounding illegal devices
• Strengthening enforcement of rules for legal devices
• Enhancing rider protection
• Improving education and accountability, including targeted messaging for riders and parents of young users
RACQ General Manager of Advocacy Joshua Cooney said many Queenslanders saw the benefits of e-mobility devices, but the State Government had to act quickly to address significant safety concerns.
“Since 2018, nearly 6,300 people presented to Queensland emergency departments with injuries from an e-mobility crash, many of which suffered severe facial injuries,” Mr Cooney said.
“Most of our members recognise that e-mobility devices have their benefits but the scale of lawlessness and subsequent trauma on Queensland’s roads and paths demands urgent action.”
Under Queensland law, any e-scooter or e-bike used on our roads or paths that is unregistered and powered to exceed 25km/hr is illegal. These devices should be classified as a motorcycle and be registered if they comply with safety and design standards.
“We’re calling on the State Government to use existing laws to impound these illegal and dangerous devices and remove them from our roads and pathways. These devices greatly increase the risk of severe injury or death,” Mr Cooney said.
“RACQ members do not want to share the road with riders illegally operating unregistered and uninsured motorcycles and we support additional enforcement.”
RACQ continues calls for full-face helmets to be made mandatory for stand-up e-scooter riders and for hire e-scooters to transition to safer sit-down models.
“Our Two Wheel Mobility Survey found 74 per cent of e-scooter users recognise full face helmets provide better protection, so we know there is public support for this change,” Mr Cooney said.
The submission also recommends the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) cameras to improve compliance with hired e-scooters by automating enforcement and enhance monitoring abilities.
Stronger education, awareness, and enforcement will increase public understanding, improve compliance, and ultimately reduce e-mobility-related injuries and fatalities.
Mr Cooney said the inquiry was an opportunity for Queensland to emerge as a national, even global, leader in managing the safe and sustainable use of e-mobility devices.
“We have the data, experience, and public appetite, now we need the cooperation and will from all stakeholders to build a system that works for all road users,” he said.
