Calls for enforcement as e-vehicle incidents skyrocket

Gold Coast residents and politicians are calling for tougher regulations on e-vehicles, with many saying it was “just a matter of time” before tragedy struck. FULL STORY

Gold Coast residents and politicians are calling for tougher regulations on e-vehicles, with many saying it was “just a matter of time” before tragedy struck.

Calls have increased since two collisions between e-scooters and vehicles in Surfers Paradise within hours of each other recently – including one resulting in a death.

A 30-year-old woman died in a horror crash in the heart of Surfers Paradise on the beachfront Esplanade – but there is no suggestion e-scooter speed was a factor in her fatal collision with a BMW.

Surfers Paradise car versus scooter accident. Picture: Ashleigh Jansen

Emergency services raced to the Esplanade near the corner of Trickett St at 3.30pm on Thursday after the woman – a Turkish National living in Surfers – was hit by a BMW while crossing the road on her e-scooter. She suffered multi-system trauma including head trauma, abdominal, limb and chest trauma and was in cardiac arrest because of those injuries. It is believed she was not wearing a helmet.

Two hours after that fatal crash, Surfers Paradise resident Steve Moody said he collided with a Maxi Taxi while trying to cross the road in a separate accident at around 5.30pm.

Mr Moody could be heard yelling in Hanlan Street where traffic from the Esplanade was being directed away from the earlier horror crash scene.

A recent report has shown e-scooter related injuries reporting to Queensland emergency departments have nearly doubled in the last two years.

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek says laws must be enforced to prevent another tragedy.

John-Paul Langbroek at the scene of the crash between Hanlan and Trickett St on the Esplanade. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“My concerns are about any wheeled device – whether it’s skateboard, e-scooter or an e-bike – going faster than 12 kilometres an hour,” he said.

“Council get more complaints than any other complaint combined about speeding on the Oceanway.”

The Oceanway is a 36km network of shared cycle and pedestrian pathways along the

coastline from the NSW border to Gold Coast Seaway. The path is adjacent to the Esplanade where last week’s tragic incident occurred.

Mr Langbroek said: “On the Oceanway there’s no separation. We don’t have separation between riders and walkers. We don’t have two paths. We’ve only got one. And you’re just never going to get people to abide by 12 kilometres an hour,” he said.

“Police don’t have the resources or the time to be out there with a speed gun trying to catch people.”

Queensland Ambulance Service tending to an injured person allegedly hit by an e-scooter along the Oceanway Surfers Paradise, October 23, 2023.

Mr Langbroek said “tinkering” with e-vehicle legislation was done by former Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey but laws continue to go ignored.

“You’re not allowed to drink, you should have a bell, you’ve got to wear a helmet – and you’re not supposed to go more than 12 kilometres an hour – that just gets ignored,” he said.

“If we don’t push enforcement the next step will be what’s happened in Paris – banned, NSW not allowed, South Australia never allowed,” he said.

“I don’t want to be the fun police, but over time in my community these are the issues people raise with (Division 12 councillor) Darren Taylor and I all the time – safety on the paths and roads being shared with wheeled devices.”

Investigations are ongoing into the recent e-scooter fatal.

Mr Langbroek confirmed the Brisbane Honorary Turkish Consulate reached out to the MP the day after the tragic incident. Repatriations are underway.