60pc spike in e-scooter carnage clogging Townsville University Hospital’s emergency department
E-scooter injuries in Townsville have skyrocketed, with a staggering 60 per cent jump in hospital presentations last year alone, new data reveals. Should they be banned? VOTE HERE.
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E-scooter injuries in Townsville have skyrocketed, with a staggering 60 per cent jump in hospital presentations last year alone, alarming new data reveals.
Townsville University Hospital — which has been collecting data on e-scooter accidents since the ride-sharing scooters first arrived in the city in 2020 — recorded 444 e-scooter related injuries in 2024, up from 277 the previous year.
The number of presentations has surged more than fivefold since 2020, when just 81 cases were logged.
And 2025 is already off to a dangerous start, with 124 hospital presentations in just three months — putting the city on course to smash last year’s record.
Top health officials are now sounding the alarm, warning that reckless riding, booze-fuelled trips, and helmet-free stunts are pushing the limits of the city’s emergency department.
“We’re seeing a spectrum of injuries, from minor bumps and grazes to very serious cases where people end up in intensive care,” said Dr Niall Small, Chief Medical Officer at Townsville Hospital and Health Service.
The numbers follow a horror year on Townsville’s roads, with two lives lost in devastating e-scooter crashes.
In January 2024, 35-year-old father of four Richard Cooper tragically died after suffering critical head injuries in an e-scooter crash in the Townsville CBD.
Then, just months later, the community was rocked again when a 15-year-old girl on an e-scooter was killed in a crash along the Bruce Highway in Deeragun in October.
As e-scooter use continues to rise, safety advocates are demanding action — including better enforcement of helmet rules, stricter speed limits, and more education around responsible riding.
Health officials warn the risks are particularly pronounced during night-time and weekend hours.
“People are using e-scooters as an easy transport option after hours,” Dr. Small said, emphasising that drink driving rules apply equally to e-scooter use.
He warns that riders engaging in dangerous behaviours, such as riding without helmets and at high speeds, are putting themselves at greater risk.
“When you’re travelling at speed on an e-scooter and come off, particularly without a helmet, the chances of getting a head injury are quite significant,” Dr. Small said.
He’s observed catastrophic head injuries that can have lifelong health impacts.
The proliferation of privately owned e-scooters has been compounds the problem, pointing out that private e-scooters often lack the speed restrictions of shared models.
He urges riders to minimise dangerous behaviours and obey the road rules.
“E-scooters are not toys. People need to be aware of the risks,” he said.
Originally published as 60pc spike in e-scooter carnage clogging Townsville University Hospital’s emergency department
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