E-bikes: Worongary teen dies in Broadbeach crash, sparking calls for urgent crackdown
A 15-year-old’s death while riding an e-bike has sparked a fierce backlash to the state government over the speed of safety reforms which officials say will save lives.
A furious Mayor Tom Tate has accused the state government of “diminished leadership” for refusing to fast-track its responseto Queensland’s e-bike crisis.
Premier David Crisafulli insisted he would not speed up a government review following the death of Worongary boy Fudou Stovell,15, on an e-bike in the early hours of Saturday morning.
He did, however, insist “change is coming”.
The state government’s parliamentary inquiry into e-bike safety is not set to hand down its report until March.
But Mr Tate said the government’s reaction was too slow.
“It shows diminished leadership and I don’t understand what is taking them so long because these (e-bikes) are weapons inthe hands of young people who cannot handle it,” he said.
“I’m speaking from the point of view of being a motorbike rider and I ask this of our state politicians – what is the downsideof acting?
“It’s not a matter of whether there will be another incident but when.”
Mr Crisafulli on Sunday said: “I think it’s appropriate that we allow the committee to do its job, and when they report backto the government, we will deal with a solution, and I think that shows respect to the committee process,” he said.
Also demanding faster action is Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA) CEO Rod Camm.
He backed the mayor’s calls for e-bikes to be more regulated to ensure greater safety, such as licensing and registration.
“Enough is enough. Queenslanders are dying because unsafe and unregulated vehicles are being sold and ridden with no oversight,” he said
“Every day these high-powered machines find their way onto our roads, bikeways and parks is another day lives are on the line.The laws exist – the government just isn’t enforcing them. “It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, and it’s killing people.”
‘Forever 15’: Heartbreaking tributes after teen’s e-bike death
Pressure is growing on the state government to fast-track its long-awaited crackdown on e-bikes after the death of another Gold Coast teenager.
The 15-year-old Worongary boy died around 3am Saturday morning after crashing his bike on Broadbeach Blvd.
Queensland Police officers from the Forensic Crash Unit are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash but it is understood the boy, who was wearing a helmet, lost control of his bike after it hit a raised pedestrian crossing speed trap outside Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club, sending him flying more than 10m and colliding with light poles.
He suffered catastrophic injuries.
Mayor Tom Tate, who last month wrote to Premier David Crisfafulli demanding change, said the latest tragedy, along with the spate of similar recent incidents, made acting before Christmas a must.
He said the state government, which is not due to bring down the findings of its e-bike inquiry until March, must act.
“This really is a terrible tragedy,” said the Mayor, who has just returned from a trade mission in the US.
“Our thoughts are with the boy’s family and friends at this time.
“With a growing number of incidents I urge the government to fast track their response.”
The Mayor has described the unchecked use of e-bikes as a “significant public safety issue” and called for riders to face the same fines as car infringement penalties if caught for illegal behaviour and giving police the power to impound or crush e-bikes.
Tributes to the teenager were placed across the weekend, with several bunches of flowers and written notes could be seen taped to a pole at the scene on Sunday morning.
“Love you bro, live good up there, ripping wheelies bro,” one read.
“Forever 15,” another read.
The boy’s damaged vehicle, a $10,000 SurRon Ultra Bee Electric Dirt Bike, was still at the scene hours after his death before it was taken away on a tow-truck.
The bike can reach up to 90km/h and is not legally allowed to be used on roads.
Mr Tate has called for e-bikes to be registered, be equipped with mandatory speed limiters and police given the power to “impound and, if necessary, destroy e-bikes for serious or repeated offences”.
The Worongary boy was the second Queenslander to die in an e-bike accident in the past week and comes just six weeks after 17-year-old Tallebudgera teenager Hudson Gagg died after the e-bike he was a passenger on collided with an SUV.
Chief Superintendent Kylie Rigg said a Highway Patrol officer had intercepted another driver in an unrelated traffic intercept when a group of youths on e-bikes went past.
“A short time later, a crash occurred,” she said.
“That officer had not engaged with that youth or that group of people when that accident happened.”
The officer then rushed to the scene and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but the 15-year-old could not be saved.
Superintendent Rigg said the boy’s family were “absolutely devastated”.
“Our hearts go out to this child and the young people who were with him at the time of the accident,” she said.
“As a parent of a 15-year-old child, I see the tragedy this brings to our community each and every day.”
Police said claims circulating online that the group were being chased were incorrect.
Ahead of Christmas, parents and caregivers are being urged to think twice and do their own research to ensure the bike is compliant with regulations before purchasing for their children.
“I know there is a balance and a burden in responding to your child’s needs and wishes around purchasing these bikes and that can be a very difficult road to travel,” Superintendent Rigg said.
“It is simply too risky for our children to be on the roadway with these devices with such a level of skill that is simply not there.”
Acting Transport Minister Sam O’Connor on Saturday said: “the inquiry must be given adequate time to … consider all the issues of this complex challenge”.
However numerous Gold Coasters have weighed in, demanding action in the wake of the latest death.
Leading lawyer Jeff Garrett, of Coolangatta firm Attwood Marshall, who contributed to the parliamentary inquiry, said it was essential the government deliver change.
“What I observe every day after work when I walk along the Coolangatta foreshore is e-bikes flying thick and fast and I have seen so many near-misses,” he said.
“It is the same story everywhere you go but these are not just scooters, these are bikes which can just fly along and whatever the government does in relation to its review, it must sort out the compliance of it, such as whether they need to be registered.
“You have to move with the times and these things are so prevalent now.”
Others took to social media to demand change.
One reader said “enough is enough”.
“The carnage and loss of young lives is just too much,” she commented.
“Premier, it’s time to act, we need immediate action to limit who uses these vehicles, mandatory full face helmets, conditional registration with plates and licensing.
“I do not know how our emergency services can keep turning up to call-outs and deal with these incredibly sad loss of life situations day after day.”
Another described the news as “horrendous”.
“Serious action needs to be taken by police and law markers as well as parents to fix this,” she wrote online.
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