A 13-year-old boy involved in an e-scooter crash at Childers last week has passed away in hospital as a result of his injuries.
Emergency services were called to Macrossan Street shortly after 6pm last Wednesday (August 26) in relation to a single-vehicle crash involving an e-scooter.
The boy riding the scooter sustained serious head injuries and was airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital in a critical condition, but succumbed to his injuries on Saturday (August 29).
The news comes as the Crisafulli Government further clamps down on the dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters across Queensland, with the second phase of tough new e-mobility laws coming into effect from today (August 31).
Under the new tranche of laws, parents will be subject to fines for children caught riding e-bikes and e-scooters illegally and riders will require a minimum of a Learners’ Licence.
From today, new measures coming into effect include:
- Riders will need to be at least 16 years of age and hold a minimum learner’s licence.
- Parents will be held responsible if children under 16 are caught riding e-bikes or e-scooters illegally and will face fines.
- Exemptions will be available for children 12-17 while riding with their parents and for people unable to hold a licence due to medical reasons or a disability.
It follows Tranche 1 of the laws which commenced on July 1, which include:
- Higher penalties for speeding, failure to wear a helmet, careless riding, illegally carrying passengers and riding personal mobility devices on prohibited roads.
- Police have the powers to seize and destroy illegal devices;
- Police have the powers to conduct random breath tests for riders in public places;
- A ban on e-bikes and scooters which can exceed 25km/h unassisted and a 12km/h speed limit near pedestrians; and
