E-Scooter Safety Concerns Highlight Urgent Need for Reform in Brisbane

Groundbreaking research from the Jamieson Trauma Institute has revealed alarming safety concerns associated with e-scooter use in Queensland, with Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba playing a crucial role in the comprehensive study.

**Princess Alexandra Hospital**
Photo Credit: Metro South Health

The research, jointly funded by RACQ and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation, exposes significant safety challenges in e-scooter usage, particularly in the Woolloongabba and surrounding Brisbane areas.

Key Findings Impacting Local Community

Researchers interviewed 111 patients across five major Queensland hospitals, including Princess Alexandra Hospital, uncovering critical insights:

One-third of riders were travelling above the legal speed limit of 25 km/h
58% of private e-scooter users were triaged at high urgency levels
79% of private scooter users reported wearing helmets, compared to 50% of hire scooter users

**Locations and frequency of facial fractures from e-scooter crashes**
Photo Credit: Head, face and neck injury patterns for electric scooter accidents identified on computed tomography scanning: Does legislative change enforcing safer riding practices have an impact on morbidity for significant head, face and neck trauma? published by Nicholas Watson, Brett Droder, Gary Mitchell, Craig Hacking

Local Mobility Landscape

Lime Mobility, operating in designated areas including Buranda near Woolloongabba, has responded positively to the safety concerns. The company announced plans to introduce seated scooters, which experts suggest could provide increased stability and reduce injury risks.

Urgent Call for Safety Reforms

RACQ’s Head of Public Policy, Dr. Michael Kane, emphasised the need for comprehensive safety changes:

“We’re seeing terrible results when people on standing scooters crash, particularly injuring their faces on hard surfaces,” Dr. Kane stated.

Local Impact

The study revealed that private e-scooter-related injuries predominantly occur during weekday commutes, highlighting the potential risks for local Brisbane workers and residents.

As of September 2024, Queensland has seen 1,050 emergency department presentations related to e-scooter incidents, compared to 940 in the same period last year—a concerning upward trend.

Looking Ahead

With the 2032 Olympics approaching, local advocates like Andrew Demack from Bicycles Queensland stress the importance of developing robust active transport infrastructure to support safe mobility options.

The research, which included Princess Alexandra Hospital as a key participant, provides critical data to inform future e-scooter safety regulations and urban transport planning in the Woolloongabba and broader Brisbane area.

Published 26-November-2024