The state government will introduce sweeping new e-mobility laws to parliament this week, accepting all 28 recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry aimed at improving safety.
The reforms include restricting e-mobility devices to over 16s and requiring e-mobility device riders to hold a valid license to ensure they have road rule knowledge and are capable of safe riding.
They also include introducing speed limits (10km/h on footpaths, and 25km/h unassisted) to better protect pedestrians, penalties for riders’ dangerous behaviours that contribute to serious injuries and fatalities, new powers for police to seize and destroy illegal devices, the introduction of random breath testing for riders, and tougher action for retailers and suppliers, who would be held accountable for selling illegal devices.
More than 6000 injuries related to e-scooters were reported at emergency departments across 36 Queensland hospitals between 2022 and 2025. Sunshine Coast Health revealed to Sunshine Coast News that in 12 months, more than 350 people attended the Sunshine Coast University Hospital emergency department with injuries caused by the devices.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the state government was determined to make Queensland safer.
“From the start, we said we would make the tough decisions to deliver nation-leading reforms and get dangerous e-scooters and e-bikes off Queensland streets,” he said.
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“Our reforms strike the right balance between keeping Queenslanders safe from those who do the wrong thing, while backing the Queenslanders who do the right thing.”
