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Nearly 1,000 fines have been issued in the first three months of new laws brought in by the Queensland government to boost e-scooter rider safety.
Key points:
- Individual fines of up to $1,078 have been issued
- Two riders were fined for travelling more than 30kph over the speed limit
- More than 600 fines were given out to riders who were not wearing a helmet
This included two riders who were nabbed speeding more than 30 kilometres per hour over the 12kph limit on footpaths, while more than 600 fines were issued to e-scooter users who were not wearing a helmet.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has confirmed that between November 1 and January 31 authorities issued 976 personal mobility device fines across the state.
The state government introduced a range of new rules and penalties for the devices in November, including tiered speeding fine categories similar to those enforced for motorists.
In the first three months of the new rules, 62 fines were given to riders detected travelling too fast, including 14 riders who were caught out speeding on footpaths.
Two riders were caught travelling more than 30kph over the speed limit, which is the highest tier under the new speeding rules, with a penalty of $575.
Another 14 penalties were distributed during the same period to e-scooter riders recorded travelling between 21 and 30kph over the speed limit.
In Queensland, the speed limit for e-scooters is set at 12kph on footpaths and 25kph on separated paths and bicycle paths.
Meanwhile, 633 infringement notices were issued to personal mobility device riders who were not wearing helmet, the equivalent of about six to seven penalties every day.
Another 27 fines were given to riders for running a red light, and 176 fines were issued to riders who travelled on a prohibited road.
Four fines were given to riders caught using their mobile phones; an offence that attracts an infringement notice of $1,078.
Drink, drug offences carry hefty fines
A TMR spokesperson warned riders could also be fined $431 for drinking liquor while riding, or could be hit with a maximum penalty of $5,750 for riding under the influence.
"TMR is currently considering ways of making enforcement of drink and drug riding more efficient, including legislative amendments to enable random breath testing, setting an appropriate breath/blood alcohol concentration limit, and penalties for those offences," the spokesperson said.
The RACQ's principal technical researcher, Andrew Kirk, said the more than 600 fines issued to riders not wearing a helmet was "definitely concerning and very disappointing".
"Everyone knows if you're going to jump on a push bike, you've got to put a helmet on," he said.
"Everyone knows if you jump on a scooter, you should put a helmet on; but they're just not doing it.
"And to be honest, riding an e-scooter without a helmet is probably a lot more dangerous than riding a push bike without a helmet."
The RACQ supported the e-scooter reforms when they were announced by the state government last year.
Mr Kirk said the RACQ also wanted a more visible on-road police presence, as well as more segregated infrastructure to protect e-scooter riders.
"Not just a painted bike lane on the road; something with a physical barrier between the traffic and the riders to give them that bit of protection," he said.
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