{"id":367656,"date":"2025-12-11T12:57:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T02:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=367656"},"modified":"2025-12-11T12:57:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T02:57:27","slug":"racq-urges-parents-think-carefully","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/12\/11\/racq-urges-parents-think-carefully\/","title":{"rendered":"RACQ Urges Parents: Think Carefully"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Five people per day ended up in Queensland Hospitals after e-scooter accidents during the first 10 months of this year, according to the latest research (Photo: RACQ)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 11, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

The RACQ has urged parents to think carefully before giving an e-scooter to their children as a Christmas present following the release of the latest injury data.<\/p>\n

Research by the Jamieson Trauma Institute has found that 1608 e-scooter riders ended up in Queensland hospitals during the first 10 months of this year, ie. five people per day.<\/p>\n

The data also revealed that between January 2018 to October this year, 7237 people presented to an emergency department after an e-scooter crash in Queensland, with 1391 needing further treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we look at the types of injuries, 28.3 per cent sustained head injuries, 23.9 per cent suffered facial trauma, and almost half (43.4 per cent) experienced fractures,\u201d RACQ spokesperson Andrew Kirk said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWith more than 50 per cent of injuries affecting the face or head, it\u2019s clear many riders are not wearing helmets correctly, not wearing them at all or the helmet they\u2019re using isn\u2019t protective enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is exactly why RACQ recommends stand-up e-scooter riders wear a full-face helmet to reduce the likelihood of severe facial injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n

The RACQ also advised parents to be sure they were buying legal devices.<\/p>\n

“Make sure the e-scooter weighs less than 60kg and fits within the legal-size limits \u2013 either 1250mm long x 700mm wide x 1350mm high; or 700mm long x 1250mm wide x 1350mm high,\u201d Mr Kirk said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also important to check the e-scooter has a bell or similar warning device and no sharp edges or protrusions.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, remember the rules in Queensland \u2013 children under 12 are not allowed to ride e-scooters, and those aged 12 to 16 must be supervised by a responsible adult.\u201d<\/p>\n

RACQ also urged parents to steer clear of the illegal e-bikes which are currently flooding the market.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Any e-bike with a motor output greater than 250 watts is illegal to use in public in Queensland.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know many children will be asking for an e-bike this Christmas because their friends have one, and we understand it can be difficult to know what\u2019s legal and what isn\u2019t,\u201d\u00a0 Mr Kirk said.<\/p>\n

\u201cParents should look out for key signs of an illegal e-bike, for example, if it doesn\u2019t have pedals or can travel faster than 6km\/h without pedalling, it\u2019s illegal.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t put your child\u2019s life at risk this festive season with an illegal e-scooter or e-bike.<\/p>\n

“Make informed choices, prioritise safety, and ensure your holidays are memorable for all the right reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Queensland Police, at least 37 deaths have occurred since 2018 linked to personal motorised devices, including e-bikes and e-scooters.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The RACQ has urged parents to think carefully before giving an e-scooter to their children as a Christmas present following the release of the latest injury data.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":367658,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[172,3],"tags":[1551],"yoast_head":"\nRACQ Urges Parents: Think Carefully - southburnett.com.au<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The RACQ has urged parents to think carefully before giving an e-scooter to their children as a Christmas present following the release of the latest injury data.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/12\/11\/racq-urges-parents-think-carefully\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"RACQ Urges Parents: Think Carefully - 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