Police to address e-scooter problems in Torquay

TORQUAY police are working on an education campaign aimed at improving e-scooters and e-skateboards safety outcomes, particularly with young people.

Online sales of e-scooters – like a conventional scooter, but with a battery and an electric motor – have surged over the past two years but Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Christo of Torquay police said this had also led to an increase in complaints and injuries through reckless on-road or footpath riding.

“We’ve escalated this to our Road Policing Command because we are getting inundated with complaints about reckless use of e-scooters, cutting in front of cars, pedestrians and being used as a means of escape from low-level criminal offending,” he said.

Under existing legislation, purchasing an e-scooter is legal but they cannot be used on any Victorian public road, cycle lane or footpath if they can travel at more than 10kmh or have a power output of more than 200 watts.

E-scooters not meeting these requirements and being used on public roads instead of private land are classified as motor vehicles and are subject to the same legal requirements, such as licensing, registration, road rules and safety standards.

Most e-scooters and e-skateboards do not have number plates, speedometers, signals or warning devices, nor do they always have visible rear lights, so they cannot be registered. This also compounds the unpredictability of use and direction to those around them.

Sgt Christo said the education campaign would likely launch in two to three weeks and be aimed at not only young people but also their parents.

“Post-education, we look to conduct a compliance operation to ensure community safety outcomes are met.

“We have the power to impound scooters, so the problem is that parents are spending a thousand dollars on these devices  and kids are riding them – only a matter of time before they speak with police and council by-laws members.

He said safety was also a key message.

“If you come off at 20kmh or 25km, without helmets, two people on it, you’re going to seriously harm yourself. We’ve already attended these types of incidents.

“We don’t want to be seizing these devices – but we need to do something, because someone is going to get seriously hurt.”

The Victorian Government is partnering with three metropolitan councils and one regional council to run e-scooter trials to understand how these vehicles can be safely incorporated into the Victorian transport network.