Child e-bike and e-scooter injuries requiring hospital admission have fallen sharply in Queensland following the introduction of tougher safety laws, Queensland Children’s Hospital has said.
Professor Roy Kimble, the hospital’s director of burns, trauma and paediatric surgery, said the early figures were encouraging, although it was too soon to assess the full impact of the changes.
“It’s certainly very early but the early signs are that the number of kids we have to admit after e-bike and e-scooter injuries has dramatically dropped,” he said.
The restrictions were introduced in stages. From July 1, personal mobility devices including e-scooters were subject to a maximum speed of 25km/h, with a 12km/h limit applying on footpaths and when passing pedestrians on shared paths.
Further changes took effect on August 31, requiring most riders of e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles to be at least 16 and hold a valid licence. Exemptions apply to supervised younger riders, some people with medical conditions and users in designated recreational areas.
Kimble said limiting speeds and restricting access for younger children had both contributed to the improvement. He said e-scooters had previously been the largest problem seen by the hospital, with two-thirds of injured children not wearing helmets.
“The injuries we were getting were quite appalling,” he said, adding that the hospital had previously reported two deaths involving children and that a third had occurred since then.
“It’s mainly head injuries the children are getting,” Kimble said. “You’ve only got one brain. If you damage that, that’s it. You’re never right again.”
The laws also introduced tougher penalties for riding dangerously, failing to wear a helmet, speeding and using devices illegally. Police can seize and destroy illegal devices, while parents may be fined when children under 16 ride unlawfully.
Kimble welcomed the measures and the police enforcement aimed at reducing the number of children arriving at emergency departments with serious injuries.
