The Western Australian government announced plans to establish a parliamentary inquiry into the safety of electric rideables, prompted by the recent death of a Perth father in an e-scooter accident. A dedicated parliamentary committee will investigate ways to improve safety measures for e-bikes and e-scooters. The inquiry aims to analyze injury and accident data, usage trends, and consider stricter penalties for illegal behaviours. It will also explore restrictions such as curfews and bans on footpath use in crowded areas.
Road Safety and Police Minister Reece Whitby emphasised the role of technology in enhancing safety. “The inquiry will examine how geo-fencing can prevent operation in congested zones, how speed limits can be enforced, and how use can be restricted to certain areas,” he said.
The government also plans to assess federal measures, calling for tighter controls on the import of non-compliant devices. Mr. Whitby criticized the federal government’s role, stating that some imported e-rideables are too fast and powerful, and should be classified as vehicles rather than rideables.
Since the start of the year, four fatalities involving e-rideables have occurred in the state. Mr. Whitby highlighted the tragic death of Perth man Thanh Phan, who was hit by an e-scooter last month the first pedestrian fatality linked to these devices. His family has called for a review of current safety regulations.
In response, the City of Perth has suspended e-scooter rentals following the incident.
The inquiry will be formally launched next week, with a report expected by the end of September. Under current laws, e-rideables are limited to 10 kilometers per hour on footpaths and 25 kilometers per hour on roads.
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