Maurice Blackburn calls for penalties to be enforced to encourage safe eScooter riding

ENFORCING of Neuron’s eScooter and eBike rules, including fining those who don’t obey them, would help improve safety, a national law firm has said

ENFORCING of Neuron’s eScooter and eBike rules, including fining those who don’t obey them, would help improve safety, a national law firm has said.

Maurice Blackburn regional office leader Amy Williams said while Neuron had recently improved safety elements through introducing a curfew and safety officers, there was nothing encouraging users to abide by rules.

“We definitely think the eScooters are a great addition to our city but more and more we are seeing they’ve got the potential to cause serious injuries,” she said.

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“Effective regulation requires rules to be in place, education about those rules and enforcement of those rules.”

Ms Williams said introducing and delivering infringements as a punishment would be the only way to start seeing Neuron’s rules and regulations followed.

“Local council staff or police need to be seen issuing on-the-spot infringement notices … without them there’s no real incentive for riders to follow the safety rules,” she said.

“Only with the police, council and possibly Neuron staff themselves taking an active role in terms of the rules and providing education and setting up a robust set of rules, we would see an improvement in the safety of eScooters across the city.”

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Ms Williams said there were also concerns over the level of insurance offered, in particular to unwilling pedestrians who may be injured by a rider.

“It’s an ongoing concern of ours on vehicles that do pose a real risk to the safety of people in Darwin city,” she said. “There is no safety net for people who may be out of work or have significant medical bills as a result of being injured by other people on the eScooters.”

Neuron Mobility was contacted for comment.