Easy, rider

Editorial: Cassandra Stanghi

Photography: Bliss David

While zipping across town on an e-scooter might not be everyone’s cup of tea, this increasingly-popular mode of transport is here to stay in Victoria.

Following a two-year trial in metropolitan and regional areas, the Victorian Government permanently legalised e-scooters statewide in October last year.

Seen by many as a quick and convenient way to get from A to B, thousands of Victorians and tourists have jumped on board the e-scooter trend, either through a hire scheme provider or their own privately-owned vehicle.

While there is no requirement for e-scooters to be registered, the Victorian Government estimates there are about 100,000 privately-owned e-scooters across the state, in addition to hire scooters.

And while the convenience of e-scooters is undeniable, police have seen alarming behaviour putting riders and other road users alike in harm’s way.

A four-day e-scooter blitz by police in Melbourne’s CBD last year detected more than 300 offences from riders, ranging from failing to wear a helmet, to putting pedestrians at risk by riding on the footpath.

For Sergeant Rob Petrou and his colleagues at State Highway Patrol, these actions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unsafe behaviour.

“In the city in particular, the vast majority of offences we pick up are for failing to wear a helmet, but we also see a lot of people riding under the influence of drugs and alcohol and failing to consider the impact it could have on their car or motorcycle licence,” Sgt Petrou said.

“The nature of the area means that many people are using e-scooters to replace a car after a few drinks on a night out, knowingly or unknowingly exceeding the legal alcohol limit.”

While the high concentration of e-scooters in the city presents its own safety risks, Sgt Petrou said it’s not the only part of the state that is causing concern.

“The Melbourne CBD is a condensed area with slower vehicle speeds and pedestrian activity, which slows riders down to a certain degree, but when we get out to the suburbs, we see speed become a real issue,” he said.

“We see privately-owned e-scooters flying along main roads with higher speed limits for cars, zooming around shopping centres, and I’ve even seen dangerous riding near hospitals putting elderly and sick people at risk.”

Police may be on the frontline of e-scooter collision scenes, but Deputy Director of Alfred Health Trauma Services Associate Professor Joseph Matthew and his colleagues are at the coalface of treating riders afterwards.

“The predominant injuries we see from e-scooter collisions are head injuries, which include brain bleeds, skull fractures and facial injuries caused when a rider lands on their face,” A/Prof Matthew said.

“Then we also see spine injuries, upper limb fractures and lower limb injuries, too.”

While the injuries are horrific, A/Prof Matthew said the impact of risky behaviour extends far beyond a trip to a hospital’s emergency department.

“Most of the people we see injured from an e-scooter collision are between the ages of 15 and 45, people who are highly productive to society and to the economy, and these injuries are taking them away from that,” he said.

“The repercussions of those injuries can have lifelong impacts, from cognitive deficits to bone-related deficits. Some people will never recover.”

While police will continue their work to stop dangerous e-scooter behaviour, riders, like all other road users, have their own responsibility to stay safe.

“I strongly urge all e-scooter riders to think about their own safety and the safety of others before and while they’re riding,” Sgt Petrou said.

“You’re not above the law of physics if you’re involved in a collision without the appropriate safety gear or when you’re under the influence. You are going to hurt yourself and possibly hurt others.”

E-scooter myths busted

× “A helmet is optional.”

All e-scooter riders must wear a helmet to protect them from head injuries in case of a collision. Failing to do so attracts a penalty ranging from $395–$642.

× “I can ride with a passenger.”

Only one person, the rider, is permitted on an e-scooter at a time. Carrying a passenger is illegal and attracts a fine of $247.

× “It’s fine to ride wherever I want as long as my speed is aligned to the signed limit.”

E-scooters must not be ridden faster than 20km/h regardless of the signed speed limit for motorists. They can only be ridden on roads with a speed limit of 60km/h or less, in a bicycle lane when available, and must not be ridden on footpaths. Significant penalties apply.

× “Any e-scooter available to purchase is legal.”

Only e-scooters with a maximum speed capability of 25 km/h or less can legally be ridden on public roads in Victoria. E-scooters with higher speed capabilities can only be ridden on private property. Penalties apply.

× “I can ride after a few drinks.”

The prescribed concentration of alcohol for the rider of a compliant e-scooter rider is 0.05. Riders of non-compliant (i.e. high-powered) e-scooters are restricted to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.00 unless they hold a full and unrestricted motorcycle licence. Significant penalties and potential implications on your driver or motorcyclist licence may apply.

For more information about e-scooter rules, visit transport.vic.gov.au/road-rulesand-safety/e-scooter-road-rules.