Queensland police have issued over 2,000 fines as part of an e-scooter enforcement operation conducted since last month, with the majority of infringements related to helmet non-compliance. These efforts coincide with a documented increase in e-scooter-related hospital admissions and emergency department presentations across the state, alongside 14 fatalities involving e-mobility devices this year.
A parliamentary inquiry into e-scooters and e-bikes is expected to deliver its report by the end of March, with legislative changes anticipated.
Enforcement Operations and Fines
The recent e-scooter enforcement operation involved more than 4,500 police hours and resulted in a total of 2,060 fines. Approximately 100 e-scooters have also been seized statewide during this period.
The specific infringements recorded include:
- 1,652 fines for not using helmets.
- 207 fines for prohibited use of an e-scooter on a road.
- 72 fines for illegally carrying a passenger.
- 68 fines for exceeding the speed limit.
- 61 fines for failing to stop for police.
Police Minister Dan Purdie stated that police enforcement would continue to target illegal and unsafe e-bike and e-scooter usage. Inspector Gareth Bosley expressed concerns regarding children operating these devices in traffic, noting a potential lack of understanding of road rules among younger riders.
Fatalities and Injury Data
In the current year, 14 fatalities involving e-mobility devices have been recorded on Queensland roads. Data indicates a significant rise in e-scooter-related injuries requiring medical attention:
- Research from the Jamieson Trauma Institute, in collaboration with RACQ, shows that over 1,600 e-scooter riders were hospitalized in the first 10 months of the year, averaging five admissions per day.
- The Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit reported approximately 2,000 serious e-mobility injuries in 2025. This marks an increase from 1,626 injuries in 2024 and 1,380 in 2023.
- Data collected from January 2018 to October 2025 indicates over 7,200 presentations to Queensland emergency departments due to e-scooter crashes.
- Of these emergency department presentations, approximately 30 percent involved head injuries and nearly 24 percent involved facial trauma. Separately, data from "last year's" injuries indicated approximately 39 percent were bone fractures, and about half involved head and facial trauma.
Michael Kane, RACQ's head of public policy, noted that the actual number of injuries is likely higher, as the data was gathered from 36 hospitals across Queensland. Anna Campbell, executive officer for Queensland Walks, stated that current data does not account for pedestrians injured by e-scooter riders and advocated for more separated infrastructure, such as cycleways, footpaths, and shared paths.
Legislative Review and Advocacy
The enforcement and injury concerns precede a parliamentary inquiry into e-scooters and e-bikes. This inquiry is scheduled to present its report by the end of March. Premier David Crisafulli has indicated that the inquiry's findings are anticipated to lead to legislative changes.
Matt Burke, chief executive of Bicycle Queensland, advocated for increased regulation of e-scooter retailers. He raised concerns about some retailers selling high-powered devices that may be marketed for private property use, despite limited availability of such spaces in urban areas.