Control the speed: Council’s urgent call on e-transport

Sunshine Coast Council is urging the State Government to implement mandatory limiters on e-transport to improve safety.

At its recent Ordinary Meeting, Council voted to progress a motion to the Local Government of Queensland’s (LGAQ) Annual Conference to seek statewide support.

The motion urges, “that the LGAQ call on the State Government to introduce mandatory device limitations and standards to control the speed and capabilities of personal mobility devices”.

If supported at the LGAQ’s 2024 Annual Conference in October, it will carry the weight of the association’s 77 member councils and present a compelling case.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said safety continued to be a primary consideration for people choosing these personal mobility devices as a travel option and that safety concern extended to people on pathways, footpaths and roads.

“Many private e-transport users are clearly operating their personal mobility devices at high – and dangerous – speeds,” Mayor Natoli said.

“The enforcement of these private e-scooter users falls to Queensland Police and according to RACQ (2023), between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2023, there had been 3,305 hospital presentations in Queensland due to incidents involving e-transport devices.”

Sunshine Coast Council’s motion will be considered at the LGAQ annual conference in Brisbane from October 21 to 23 October.

E-SCOOTERS: What are the rules?

You may ride on paths unless there's a sign prohibiting personal mobility devices. You must comply with the following speed limits:

• Footpaths — 12km/h maximum
• Shared paths —12km/h maximum (unless signed otherwise)
• Separated paths—25km/h maximum (unless signed otherwise)
• Bicycle paths — 25km/h maximum (unless signed otherwise)
• Find all the information about Queensland road rules relevant to electric scooters on the Qld Government  Street Smart webpage .
• Information on penalties for infringements can be found here: Queensland Government Personal Mobility riding rules and fines