CHRISTMAS has come and gone for another year and authorities are urging people who received electric scooters and drones as presents to take the utmost care.
Electric scooter use has skyrocketed in the Whitsundays, in recent years, and police are urging riders to take extra caution, as the number of lives lost involving these devices has more than doubled in the last year.
In 2024, eight lives were lost on Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs), such as e-scooters and e-skateboards, in Queensland alone. This compares to two lives lost in Queensland, in 2023.
The growing use of PMDs has caused community concern due to dangerous operation, which can result in serious injuries and sometimes, tragically, death.
Police are committed to enforcement and engagement activities to ensure the safe use of the devices, with more than 1,700 infringements issued in 2024 for failing to wear a helmet whilst riding a PMD ($154 fine) and over 183 infringements for speeding (up to $619 fine).
Queensland Police Service Road Policing Group Acting Inspector Gareth Bosley said police were noticing the increase of devastating incidents involving PMDs.
“E-scooters may seem like a great gift to put under the Christmas tree, but they come with significant risks, especially for younger and less experienced users,” Acting Inspector Bosley said.
“It’s essential parents and carers consider the legalities of e-scooters, as these cannot be operated by a person under 16 years-of-age without adult supervision, while those under 12 years of age are not legally allowed to operate them except on private property.
“If you have gifted a PMD this Christmas, make sure the receiver understands the rules they have to adhere to, otherwise they’ll be seeing the police this summer.”
For those who choose to ride PMDs, police stress the importance of: Wearing appropriate safety gear, including helmets, riding responsibly and operating within the road rules, and being vigilant and cautious, particularly around roads and pedestrians.
Other penalties include: Using a phone $1,161, double riding $154, and riding on a prohibited road $185.
Meanwhile, Ergon Energy Network is urging people to ensure they never fly drones near the power network, as drones topped Christmas wish lists this past holiday season.
With more people having given drones as gifts recently, particularly to children, Ergon crews have increasingly been called out to remove drones that have become stuck in powerlines, sometimes causing significant power disruptions.
Area manager Renee Kath said the company had steadily seen a rise in the number of drones being flown into powerlines and, unfortunately, it’s not just a nuisance, it can be dangerous.
“In some cases, a drone stuck in powerlines has caused extended power outages, affecting thousands of homes and businesses,” Ms Kath said.
“It’s important that people understand the risks involved and take care to avoid flying near any of our electricity assets.”
While drones can offer hours of fun, Ms Kath warns that flying them near powerlines poses serious safety concerns.
“The last thing anyone wants is for their Christmas present to end up tangled in a live powerline, bringing down powerlines and causing a risk to anyone nearby,” she said.
“We recommend parents supervise children who are using drones to ensure they don’t fly anywhere near these hazards.
“And if the worst occurs, and a drone gets caught in powerlines, substations or transformers, it is vital that you don’t try and remove it because there’s a real risk of a life-threatening electric shock.
“The best measure, should the drone become stuck in powerlines or similar electrical assets, is to call Ergon on 13 22 96.”
For more information about appropriate Personal Mobility Device use and rules visit: https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/pmd/tools-tips/
