Queensland doctors are calling for an urgent crackdown on e-bikes and e-scooters after a teenage boy was left fighting for life following an e-scooter crash on Friday. <\/p>\n
A 13-year-old boy suffered serious head injuries and is in a critical condition after the single vehicle crash in Childers, about 400km from Brisbane, with police to investigate whether speed was a factor. <\/p>\n
AMA Queensland President Associate Professor Erica Gannon said an age restriction for e-mobility devices should be introduced following yet another tragic crash involving a child. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis tragic crash again shows why doctors have been imploring the government to fix the law,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cChildren under 16 years simply do not have the skills needed to ride these devices safely, especially around vehicles, other riders and pedestrians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Gannon said riding e-mobility devices is different from riding an ordinary pushbike or scooter which requires human activity to power them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe physical effort required to ride, accelerate and maintain higher speeds on a conventional bicycle can influence how riders behave around traffic and when entering and exiting streets, riding on footpaths and giving way to other road users,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cTeenagers take risks as part of normal childhood development which makes them unsafe to drive a car or operate other devices like e-scooters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the wake of yet another tragic crash, the government\u2019s new laws, due to start Monday, raise significant concerns regarding ongoing safety and risks to Queensland children, as a complete ban on child riders was not legislated.\u201d <\/p>\n
Professor Gannon said the AMA Queensland has repeatedly called for children under 16 years to be prohibited from riding the devices following the deaths of multiple Queensland kids. <\/p>\n
Under the current laws, children aged 12-15 are allowed to ride under adult supervision. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe new laws merely change the supervision requirement from an adult to a parent, grandparent or guardian,\u201d Professor Gannon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is challenging to see what difference this insignificant change will make.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government must listen to doctors, parents and the community and reintroduce the ban that was recommended by its own parliamentary committee in February.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout it, we will continue to see these tragic crashes, more preventable child injuries and potential loss of life.\u201d<\/p>\n