E-SCOOTER SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM EXPANDS NATIONWIDE

Young riders are at a heightened risk.

A new national school-based initiative to improve e-mobility safety among young Australians is being rolled out across the country, as injuries linked to e-scooters and e-bikes continue to rise.

The rapid uptake of e-scooters has transformed how many Australians travel for short trips and recreation. An estimated 3.6 million people used the devices in a single year, reflecting their growing role in urban mobility.

However, safety concerns have also intensified. In Queensland alone, more than five people a day are presenting to emergency departments with e-scooter injuries.

Around 2,000 riders were seriously injured in 2025, compared with 1,626 in 2024 and 1,380 in 2023, highlighting a steady increase in incidents as usage grows.

Young riders at heightened risk

Research suggests that children and teenagers are disproportionately affected by e-mobility-related injuries. In Victoria, nearly half of all e-scooter injuries involve children aged 10 to 14, despite laws prohibiting riders under 16.

Older adolescents are also at risk, with e-bike accidents the most common among those aged 15 to 18.

Experts say this reflects a broader trend of young people navigating increasingly powerful devices without sufficient experience or awareness of road safety risks.

E-scooters education gap highlighted

John Duncan, Chief Operating Officer at road safety charity BRAKE Driver Awareness Australia, said the pace of technological adoption had outstripped education efforts.

“Devices like e-scooters can be a young person’s first experience travelling at speed in shared traffic.

"While the technology and availability have arrived quickly, the education hasn’t, and that gap is costing young people their safety and, in some cases, their lives,” says John.

Safety experts have identified several risk factors associated with e-scooter incidents, including nighttime riding and alcohol use. I

International research indicates alcohol is involved in about 42.9 per cent of e-scooter injuries.

A Queensland hospital audit also found that nearly two in five crashes occur between 9 pm and 5 am, when visibility is reduced, and intoxication rates tend to be higher.

Australian society has made huge strides in recognising the causes of serious road incidents, such as driving under the influence or using a mobile phone while driving.

But those same risks apply to e-scooters, where riding intoxicated, without a helmet, or at night can be just as dangerous, but are not taken as seriously.

“We’re also seeing growing frustration in communities where e-scooters are used on shared paths without consideration for others,” John said.

“Older Australians, people with disabilities and pedestrians can feel vulnerable, which is why greater awareness around respect and courtesy in shared spaces is so important.”

Riding intoxicated,without a helmet is not taken as seriously

National rollout of school program.

In response, BRAKE has developed what it describes as Australia’s first national school-based e-mobility education program, targeting students aged 11 to 15.

Delivered through two classroom lessons, the initiative focuses on practical skills such as hazard recognition, speed management, stopping distances and safe riding behaviour in traffic.

The program also addresses visibility, environmental awareness, legal responsibilities and the real-world consequences of unsafe riding.

A behavioural component encourages students to consider how their actions affect others in shared public spaces.

“During adolescence, the part of the brain that seeks reward develops faster than the part responsible for impulse control, making speed and peer approval especially thrilling in the moment.

Our program helps students pause, think, and make choices that protect themselves and others,” adds John.

Road safety in a broader context.

The initiative forms part of BRAKE’s wider road safety work, which includes programs designed to reduce road trauma among young Australians.

Road accidents remain the leading cause of unintentional injury death among people aged 15 to 24, accounting for about 60 per cent of such fatalities.

Regional areas face particular challenges, with almost two-thirds of fatal road crashes occurring outside major cities. Longer travel distances and higher-speed roads are key factors contributing to the severity of incidents.

Program growth and future expansion. What began as a pilot across three local high schools has since reached more than 90,000 students in over 190 Queensland schools.

Following this expansion, the program is now being introduced in Victoria and South Australia, with schools in the Northern Territory also committing to participate.

"Road safety shouldn’t be something young people learn through tragedy.

"With the right support, this program could reach every secondary school in Australia and help students build safer habits on the road,” says John.

“Unlike one-off talks, our model enables teachers to deliver ongoing learning, ensuring students everywhere, including in remote areas, gain the skills and confidence to stay safe.”

BRAKE is encouraging schools, parents, councils and corporate partners to support the initiative as E-mobility is becoming an increasingly common part of everyday life for young Australians.

For more information, visit www.brake.org.au