A group of Queensland organisations – including the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ), the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Motor Trades Association of Queensland, Bicycle Queensland, and Queensland Walks – is urging the state government to intensify enforcement against illegal e-mobility devices.
The coalition warns that without prompt action, the number of injuries and fatalities linked to these devices will rise, and with it, the number of insurance claims.
According to data provided by RACQ, more than 1,200 individuals received emergency medical treatment in Queensland for injuries related to e-scooter incidents by the end of August 2025. This figure does not account for injuries involving e-bikes, suggesting that the total number of cases is likely higher.
Insurance data from RACQ indicates a 22% increase in claims involving cyclists and e-mobility devices between March 2024 and February 2025, totalling 186 incidents.
Most claims originated in high-traffic tourist areas such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Townsville, with incidents peaking during school pick-up times and evening commutes. Reduced visibility and fatigue were cited as contributing factors.
In 2024, Queensland emergency departments treated over 1,500 individuals for injuries related to e-scooter use, with eight fatalities reported from personal mobility incidents.
RACQ’s head of public policy, Dr. Michael Kane, said the necessary legal tools are already in place. “The laws exist to end this epidemic – they just need to be consistently enforced,” Kane said.
He explained that current legislation allows authorities to issue defect notices and impound vehicles that do not comply with regulations.
Healthcare professionals and industry representatives have highlighted the increasing risk associated with high-powered, unregulated e-mobility devices.
Associate Professor Bhavesh Patel, representing the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, noted a significant uptick in injuries, particularly head trauma. “The rate of injury from e-mobility devices has been steadily trending up over the last few years to the point where we are at almost one per day, with the majority being head injuries,” Patel said.
Brad Flanagan, general manager of industry and skills at the Motor Trades Association of Queensland, emphasised the need to classify certain e-mobility devices as illegal motorcycles. “Any motorised vehicle that can travel more than 6km per hour without pedalling is not a bicycle - it’s an illegal motorcycle, and it should be treated as one,” Flanagan said.
He expressed concern that children are operating these devices without appropriate safety standards, registration, insurance, or training.
RACQ has reiterated its call for the state government to empower law enforcement to seize non-compliant e-scooters and e-bikes, especially those exceeding the 25km/h speed limit or lacking registration.
These recommendations were included in RACQ’s submission to a parliamentary inquiry reviewing e-mobility safety standards earlier this year.
Joshua Cooney, RACQ’s general manager of advocacy, said: “We’re calling on the state government to use existing laws to impound these illegal and dangerous devices and remove them from our roads and pathways. These devices greatly increase the risk of severe injury or death.”
RACQ also advocates for regulatory changes that would require e-scooter riders to wear full-face helmets and encourages the adoption of seated, more stable e-scooter models in shared mobility programs.
Internal survey results from RACQ show that about 74% of users recognise the added protection provided by full-face helmets.
The coalition is also calling for targeted education campaigns for riders and parents of young users, as well as the deployment of artificial intelligence-based camera systems to monitor and enforce compliance in high-traffic areas.
Anna Cambell of Queensland Walks highlighted concerns about pedestrian safety, noting that fast, illegal devices are making footpaths less accessible for walkers.
With the holiday season approaching and illegal devices becoming more widely available, RACQ is advising consumers to be cautious when purchasing e-mobility devices for children.
Kane said: “Do not risk your child’s life; do not buy them an illegal e-mobility device. Key signs you’re about to buy your kids an illegal e-device include a marketed top speed of over 25km/hr, no pedals, and warning labels such as ‘for private property use only’.”
