The WA government has launched a new parliamentary inquiry into the safety and possible banning of e-scooters, following tragic e-rideable deaths in both WA and across Australia.
According to The West Australian, the inquiry was established by the State Parliament’s Community Development and Justice Standing Committee, and has been tasked with finding ways to make e-rideables safer while looking into tougher penalties around illegal behaviour.
The committee has also been asked to consider the implementation of night-time curfews on the use of e-scooters, as well as possible footpath bans in pedestrian areas.
Data around e-rideable injuries, accidents and trends of use will be analysed by the inquiry, with committee members to report back on their findings by September.
The inquiry comes in response to the recent death of Perth man Thanh Phan, who tragically passed away after a collision while riding an e-scooter in the city’s CBD last month.
Speaking of such safety concerns, WA’s Road Safety and Police Minister Reece Whitby said (per the ABC) that “we’ve had four fatalities involving e-rideables since the start of the year and of course every death is tragic”.
“[Phan’s] family are grief-stricken obviously, but have requested a review of the way e-rideables are used and the safety issues around them.”
The inquiry arrives in tandem with The City of Perth’s temporary suspension on the hiring of e-scooters and WA Police’s enforcement blitz — both of which arose following Phan’s death.
Outside of WA, another man died in an e-bike accident in Sydney in March of this year, with a separate e-bike fatality taking the life of a man in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula in May.
Also last month, an 18-year-old pedestrian died after being struck by an e-scooter in Townsville.
Other safety concerns around e-rideable batteries have also emerged over the years, with faulty lithium battery explosions leading to apartment evacuations and house fires in Sydney.
“We need to do more”, Whitby said while announcing the inquiry.
“I’m really concerned about the tragedies that have occurred and particularly the vulnerability of pedestrians.”
Lead image: Leon Neal/Getty Images and 9News
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