Editorial: E-scooters need to be regulated for safety’s sake

The government must act swiftly to ensure there are no more preventable deaths and serious injuries, writes the editor.

Lime scooters in Brisbane

Governments, particularly conservative governments, tread a fine line when it comes to regulation of new products that may prove harmful in the wrong hands.

While they are responsible for public safety and health they also don’t want to be seen to be telling people how to live their lives, or to stop people from making a living by importing the newest gadgets from overseas.

Sometimes our politicians are just slow to see the negative impact that the latest fad might be having in our community.

Even under the previous Labor government, which was prone to be more interventionist, we saw health minister Grace Grace failing to grasp the terrible impact vapes were having on our children after an outcry from parents.

Despite an ANU report that labelled e-cigarettes as a public health crisis, Ms Grace dismissed the issue as being no more important than kids smoking behind the bike sheds in her day.

Thankfully, after federal government action in part prompted by reporting from The Courier-Mail and our sister publications, nicotine vapes have been regulated as therapeutic goods since July last year and other devices can only be sold at pharmacies.

Today we report that the state government is to hold an inquiry into the use of personal use of mobility devices, including e-scooters.

It has been prompted by a rising number of serious deaths and injuries caused by scooter use.

Injuries to personal mobility riders, passengers and pedestrians rose 112 per cent between 2021 and 2024.

The inquiry will run for almost a year and canvass everything from where scooters can be parked to restrictions on the import of commercial and private devices.

It seems everyone has a negative story about e-scooters.

For many it is simply the tripping hazard hire scooters pose after they are discarded on footpaths in the CBD.

But at least the hire devices are regulated and have their top speeds limited and operators are obliged to supply helmets.

Some scooters that can be bought for private use can hit 60km/h, and because they are electric they are hard to hear coming as they approach at speed on the footpath.

In such environments, and on walking and bike paths in our parks, the scooters represent as great a danger to pedestrians as they do to the riders.

We welcome Transport Minister Brett Mickelberg’s inquiry, but wonder if the process could be expedited.

“The increase in injuries and deaths we are seeing because of unsafe and unlawful riding cannot be ignored and I share the community’s concern,” Mr Mickelberg said.

And while it is important to hear from all affected groups – community members, road use groups, disability advocates, health and trauma experts, academia, the e-mobility industry – it is also important to act swiftly to ensure there are no more preventable deaths and serious injuries.

Setting and enforcing speed limits on parks and on footpaths would be a good place to start.

WE CAN DO MAGIC

It’s the biggest weekend in rugby league and lucky for footy mad Queenslanders, it’s right here.

Magic Round starts tonight when the first of three women’s State of Origin games kicks off at Suncorp Stadium.

From there, it’s a weekend fit for the most diehard of footy fans with eight games across three days.

This weekend is, without a doubt, bigger than anything else in rugby league. It’s bigger than the Las Vegas round, bigger than the grand final weekend and it rivals State of Origin for hype.

When it began in 2019 with the support of the Queensland government, Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing, attendance over four days was 134,677. By 2024, that number had swelled to 149, 196. This weekend is officially sold out with the last tickets snapped up yesterday afternoon – meaning more than 150,000 seats have been sold for the three NRL days.

On top of that, tonight’s huge women’s State of Origin opener is also tracking to bring in more than 25,000 – putting the record of 25,782 set in Newcastle for last year’s Game Two under threat.

Magic Round has become a unique Queensland event with a buzz like no other. It’s not only an opportunity to watch some incredible games of football – it’s also a chance for regional and interstate travellers to take in all that our capital city has to offer.

Magic Round can only get bigger and better. And so we welcome Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys promising it will staying right here – where it belongs.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here