Aussies warned over $1,161 fine after parents' shocking e-scooter act on city road

Yahoo

26-05-2025

Many Australians are increasingly turning to e-scooters as a greener, more convenient way to get around, especially when it comes to avoiding traffic and parking hassles. But two users, who are ostensibly parents, were spotted in a shockingly dangerous act on the devices.
The pair were seen riding with two young children standing in front of them on the scooters, in Cairns, Queensland on Monday, with neither child wearing a helmet.
The risky ride has sparked concern and could land the adults in serious trouble, with multiple breaches of Queensland's e-scooter laws likely to apply. "Is this legal?" a worried bystander wrote online, sharing a photo of the family. "Adults have helmets on in case they fall off, but the two small children standing on the front have no helmets?" the bystander said.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a Queensland Police spokeswoman confirmed the scenario was in breach of several laws. "Children under 12 are not permitted to ride, everyone must wear a helmet, and there must only be one person on each device," she said.
The spokeswoman pointed to several rules that the family likely had violated. E-scooters are classified as personal mobility devices and are strictly regulated to ensure public safety.
According to Queensland Government rules, e-scooters are designed for one person only — carrying another passenger, even a small child, is not permitted and attracts a $161 fine.
Similarly, all riders must wear a properly fastened helmet, with the same penalty applying for non-compliance. Riders must also be at least 16 years old, meaning another $161 fine is enforceable there. All up, that's $483.
Riding dangerously or recklessly, which could include behaviours like carrying a child or not wearing a helmet, can lead to more serious fines of up to $1,161.
The Cairns example comes as officers on the Gold Coast revealed they issued a whopping 25 traffic infringement notices during a blitz last Thursday targeting unsafe behaviour among users of personal mobility devices (PMDs), such as e-scooters and e-bikes.
Seven of those fines were directly related to PMD and bike offences, including riding without a helmet, exceeding speed limits, riding in prohibited areas and allowing children under 10 to ride.
Senior Sergeant Steve Young highlighted one alarming incident in which a 10-year-old was seen doing "wheelies" on the road with an e-scooter. "His mother was issued a fine after admitting she allowed him to use the device," he said.
"We know these devices are popular and can be great for getting around – but they're not toys. They can be dangerous when used incorrectly or without proper safety gear.
"Many riders were found to be doing the right thing, and we thank them," Young said. "But for those ignoring the rules, especially when it comes to helmets, speed, and age restrictions, we will continue to take action."
Earlier this year, research suggested that the number of Aussies dying from e-scooter usage continues to rise across the country as the mode of transport surges in popularity. However, child fatalities are disproportionate to those of adults, and it is something authorities desperately want to end.
"We've identified a shocking over-representation of children... the fatalities that involve children, the vast majority of them have occurred in collisions with other vehicles," Associate Professor Milad Haghani from the University of Melbourne said.
In the last five years, 30 people have died while using e-scooters in Australia, and 11 of these have been children. Queensland has the highest number of e-scooter tragedies, with 15 deaths, while Western Australia and Victoria have experienced six each, NSW recorded two deaths and the ACT one.
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