WA launches parliamentary inquiry into e-scooters following death of Thanh Phan in Perth's CBD
The WA government will establish a new parliamentary inquiry into the safety of e-rideables, sparked by the death of a Perth father in an e-scooter crash last month.
A parliamentary committee will be tasked with finding ways to make e-bikes and e-scooters safer and consider tougher penalties for illegal behaviour.
The inquiry will analyse data around injuries, accidents and trends of use to develop appropriate restrictions, such as curfews and footpath bans in areas of high pedestrian use.
Road Safety and Police Minister Reece Whitby said the inquiry would also explore how technology could be used to make e-rideables safer.
"[The inquiry] will look at how they can be geo-fenced to not operate in certain congested areas, how they might be limited to speed or limited to areas where they can be used," Mr Whitby said.
Data comparing privately owned e-rideable devices with hireable devices will also be analysed to inform updated regulations.
The state government also wants the committee to look at how the federal government can intervene and limit non-compliant devices being imported into Australia.
Mr Whitby said he would like an investigation into "the Commonwealth's responsibility and role in allowing the importation of e-rideables that quite frankly travel too fast and are too powerful and should be treated as vehicles and not e-rideables".
"We've had four fatalities involving e-rideables since the start of the year and of course every death is tragic," he said.
Mr Whitby said the family of Perth man Thanh Phan were calling for a review after he was struck by an e-scooter and killed last month.
"Mr Phan was the first pedestrian to die as a result of an incident involving e-rideables," Mr Whitby said.
"His family are grief-stricken obviously, but have requested a review of the way e-rideables are used and the safety issues around them."
The City of Perth announced it would suspend the hiring of e-scooters following Mr Phan's death.
Mr Whitby will move a motion to establish the inquiry in parliament next week and said a report on the findings would be presented by the end of September.
In the meantime, WA Police has been asked to continue its enforcement blitz of e-rideable safety in the community and in particularly dense pedestrian areas.
More than 20 fines were issued by police last week after interactions with 72 e-rideable users, with four e-rideables impounded.
The Road Safety Commission has also been asked to educate the public on the safe and legal use of e-rideables in the community.
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