Education Department chief Jay Peckitt bans under-16s from using e-scooters and e-bikes in all public schools

All WA public schools will ban kids younger than 16 from riding e-scooters and e-bikes on school grounds from the start of next year. Education Department director-general Jay Peckitt said he decided to order the ban after principals raised concerns about the safety of young people using the devices in and around schools. On Thursday, he will issue a “CEO instruction” to the principals of 834 schools prohibiting under-16s from using or storing eRideables or eBikes on school premises from February 2. Mr Peckitt said the ban would prevent incidents and align public school policy with the Road Traffic Code 2000, which prohibits anyone younger than 16 using the devices with the motor engaged. “This ban is about reducing risks and making sure our students and their families know and comply with existing road safety laws,” he said. “We have made this decision after growing concerns about young people using these devices in and around school areas. “Safety is always our first consideration, and we have a duty of care to our students and staff. “We encourage students under 16 to use safer and legal ways of getting to school such as walking, cycling while wearing helmets, or catching public transport, and ask parents to work with schools to comply with road safety laws.” Ashdale Secondary College principal Jacquie Bogunovich welcomed the ban. She said eRideables were fast, silent and students had little or no training using them. “We’ve had a few near misses in the recent past,” she said. “I definitely don’t want those near misses to become something more serious.” While she had only a few dozen students riding the devices to school, Ms Bogunovich was aware of other large schools where it was an even bigger problem. “I’m really pleased this is coming in because we can’t rely on luck to look after the safety of our kids,” she said. Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said the ban in public schools would reinforce WA’s road safety laws, discourage parents from buying devices for children under the legal age and support principals to keep schools safe. “We welcome seeing young West Australians walking or cycling to school—it’s a healthy and active choice,” he said. “But it’s vital they do so safely.” Road Safety Commission figures show that since 2022, there have been 14 reported crashes on public roads or footpaths resulting in serious injures of children aged 15 and under who were using eRideables or eBikes. The order comes as a Parliamentary inquiry into eRideable regulations and penalties was due to hand down its report on Thursday.