Push for new e-bike age ban in Queensland after 13yo left fighting for life in horror crash

Queensland doctors are calling for an urgent crackdown on e-bikes and e-scooters after a teenage boy was left fighting for life following an e-scooter crash on Friday.

A 13-year-old boy suffered serious head injuries and is in a critical condition after the single vehicle crash in Childers, about 400km from Brisbane, with police to investigate whether speed was a factor.

AMA Queensland President Associate Professor Erica Gannon said an age restriction for e-mobility devices should be introduced following yet another tragic crash involving a child.

“This tragic crash again shows why doctors have been imploring the government to fix the law,” he said.

“Children under 16 years simply do not have the skills needed to ride these devices safely, especially around vehicles, other riders and pedestrians.”

Professor Gannon said riding e-mobility devices is different from riding an ordinary pushbike or scooter which requires human activity to power them.

“The physical effort required to ride, accelerate and maintain higher speeds on a conventional bicycle can influence how riders behave around traffic and when entering and exiting streets, riding on footpaths and giving way to other road users,” she said.

“Teenagers take risks as part of normal childhood development which makes them unsafe to drive a car or operate other devices like e-scooters.

“In the wake of yet another tragic crash, the government’s new laws, due to start Monday, raise significant concerns regarding ongoing safety and risks to Queensland children, as a complete ban on child riders was not legislated.”

Professor Gannon said the AMA Queensland has repeatedly called for children under 16 years to be prohibited from riding the devices following the deaths of multiple Queensland kids.

Under the current laws, children aged 12-15 are allowed to ride under adult supervision.

“The new laws merely change the supervision requirement from an adult to a parent, grandparent or guardian,” Professor Gannon said.

“It is challenging to see what difference this insignificant change will make.

“The government must listen to doctors, parents and the community and reintroduce the ban that was recommended by its own parliamentary committee in February.