A 13-year-old boy from rural Queensland has died after a shocking e-scooter crash left him hospitalised with \u2018severe head injuries\u2019. <\/p>\n
Emergency services were called to Macrossan Street in Childers, a small Queensland town inland from Bundaberg, on Wednesday after a \u201csingle-vehicle crash involving an e-scooter\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boy riding the scooter sustained serious head injuries and was flown to Queensland Children\u2019s Hospital in a critical condition,\u201d a Queensland Police spokesman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe succumbed to his injuries on August 29. Investigations are ongoing and there is no further information at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police plea to e-scooter riders<\/p>\n
On Sunday, just hours after the news came through of the teen\u2019s death, Queensland Police Disaster and Emergency Management Acting Deputy Commissioner Rhys Wildman said more than 1700 fines had been issued to riders \u201cengaging in risky behaviour\u201d over the Past two months.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor any road user, these behaviours are dangerous and increase the risk of serious crashes and injury,\u201d Acting Deputy Commissioner Wildman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, for young road users who lack experience on Queensland roads, the consequences of these behaviours can be catastrophic.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoad safety starts with every Queenslander, and whether driving a car, riding a motorcycle or using an e-mobility device, Queenslanders can expect police anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven the smallest lapse in concentration can result in tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shortly after the incident took place, the Australian Medical Association\u2019s Queensland branch called for urgent law reforms around e-bikes and e-scooters.<\/p>\n
Doctors want age restrictions<\/p>\n
AMA Queensland president Associate Professor Erica Gannon said doctors had been \u201cimploring the government to fix the law\u201d by introducing age restrictions on the devices.<\/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 she said.<\/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<\/p>\n
Professor Gannon said teenagers are more likely to take risks as a normal part of childhood development, but it also means they shouldn\u2019t operate devices like e-scooters or e-bikes.<\/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 she said.<\/p>\n
Under current Queensland laws, children aged 12-15 are allowed to ride e-bikes and e-scooters under adult supervision.<\/p>\n