Injury prevention drives JTI Parliamentary inquiry e-scooter submission 

Latest e-scooter injury data released by Queensland’s peak injury research body, Jamieson Trauma institute (JTI), shows presentations to hospital emergency departments continue to escalate, with the latest figures showing an increase to almost 160 per month in 2025, up from 100 per month two years ago.

The research findings, funded by RACQ and the RBWH Foundation, will play a critical role in JTI’s submission to the State Parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility safety and use. Submissions close on 20 June.

Professor Kirsten Vallmuur, Trauma Lead at QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Chair of Trauma Surveillance and Data Analytics at JTI, said private e-scooter riders now comprised two-thirds of hospital presentations.

“These riders are usually travelling at higher speeds and on roads, often for weekday work-related commutes, are regular riders and often wear helmets,” said Professor Vallmuur.

“They sustain more severe injuries and have a higher proportion requiring ambulances and admission to hospital.”

In 2022, RACQ and the RBWH Foundation provided $200,000 of research funding to JTI for research into e-scooter injuries. Data on hospital presentations and from patient surveys informed the JTI submission to the Parliamentary inquiry.

“JTI’s initiative to red flag this new transport technology almost three years ago, reinforces the role public donations play in funding research that starts at the bedside and keeps Queenslanders safe,” said RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske.

“This research often falls outside the scope of Government funding and we are honoured to partner with RACQ in driving this public safety issue.”

RACQ will make a separate detailed submission to the inquiry.

“We’ve been calling for major changes to e-scooter rules following JTI’s research which revealed severe facial and head injuries have become a major concern for hospitals,” said RACQ Head of Public Policy Dr Michael Kane.

“RACQ has been advocating for full-faced helmets to be mandatory for people using private stand-up e-scooters, and for hire scooters to transition to more stable sit-down models that have a lower centre of gravity.”

In 2025 to the end of April alone we have already had 632 presentations and there were 1,504 presentations to participating Emergency Departments in Queensland* as a result of an e-scooter crash and eight people were killed in 2024.

“As a clinician, it has been alarming, the trend in significant injuries requiring a trauma team response to provide appropriate care,” said RBWH Emergency Specialist Dr Gary Mitchell.

“Not only are we seeing more injuries, but we are seeing more significant injuries. There are serious concerns amongst our trauma colleagues on the impact from electric Personal Mobility Devices (e-PMDs) on the healthcare system from trauma related presentations.”

E-scooter rider, Oliver Barany, is among the statistics. Oliver was hit by a car on his way home to New Farm and although his injuries were minor, he believes policy to improve safety is vital.

“I was lucky that a nurse witnessed the accident and insisted we call an ambulance because although I was wearing a helmet, I had hit my head,” said Oliver.

“I still suffer from a wrist injury and think that riding gloves are a great idea, as well as bike lights to increase visibility.”

JTI’s patient survey data has also found public shared scheme riders are generally inexperienced, predominantly travelling on footpaths for leisure activities on weekends, at slower-moderate speeds, after consuming alcohol, with less tendency to wear a helmet, and fewer admissions to hospital but still significant injuries.

“JTI research provides an important evidence base to contribute to safety initiatives and policy setting around e-scooters,” said Professor Vallmuur.

“We aim to capture timely and relevant data and to be responsive to government requests for information so that the data can assist policy makers to make informed decisions.”

The Parliamentary committee is required to table the inquiry report by Monday, 30 March 2026.

*The Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU) captures data from e-scooter related presentations in 30 participating emergency departments across Queensland, not all hospitals in Queensland provide data to QISU.

Sian Conway Lamb, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, AusHSI | sian.conwaylamb@qut.edu.au | +61 07 3138 6087