Less than 20 speeding infringements issued to e-rideable users in 2025 as enforcement issues continue

Just 17 speeding infringements were handed down to e-rideable users in 2025, as the Cook Government continues to mull its response to last year’s e-rideable inquiry. In 2025, only 10 people were issued infringements for travelling more than 10km/h on a footpath. Another seven were booked for exceeding the 25km/h limit on roads or other paths. Fresh figures presented to Parliament revealed that 19 were given infringements for riding with a passenger or pet on board in the same period, while 30 were picked up on for riding on roads that they shouldn’t have. While speeding and poor riding were rarely picked up, more than 300 users were pinged for not wearing a helmet properly or at all. Increased scrutiny of safety around e-rideables came after the death of 51-year-old Thanh Phan in the Perth CBD in May. It was one of eight e-scooter related deaths, sparking a Parliamentary inquiry. The committee responsible for the inquiry issued 33 recommendations and found a “concerning” lack of compliance in rules around e-rideables including speeding, helmet wearing, underage riding and illegal modifications. Despite the apparent prevalence of bad behaviour, police say they are finding it challenging to enforce the rules. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch told the committee of the issue in August. “The challenge for us is identifying the individuals who are breaching because of the agile nature of them, the rapidity of them disappearing and are we increasing public safety risk by trying to catch them on the spot?” he said. “Our best effort is to have them licensed, have them easily identified or have observations from the sky. “That is our enforcement strategy. Having them identified and registered is something that would benefit that strategy.” Shadow road safety minister Julie Freeman said the number of infringements did not match how common bad behaviour was. “I am quite honestly dumbfounded at the low number of e-rideable infringements, when anecdotal evidence and community feedback indicates the reckless use of e-rideables by irresponsible riders is a growing hazard,” she said. “Given the scale of injuries and unsafe behaviour we’re seeing, only 17 speeding infringements shows the Government is simply not keeping pace with the problem.” Despite the challenges and overall lack of infringements, 2025 did see a marked increase in device seizures with about 240 e-scooters impounded, up from 156 the year prior. The crackdown continued through to the new year when police launched Operation Moorhead to combat reports of children throwing rocks at cars and riding recklessly in the Joondalup district. Police laid more than 180 charges and seized and destroyed 76 devices as part of the operation. The Cook Government is due to hand down its response to the Parliamentary committee report this week. A State Government spokesperson said it had been looking into e-rideables. “The Cook Government is serious about the safety of e-rideables and has reviewed recommendations from the parliamentary inquiry with the Government’s response to be announced soon,” they said. “Operation Moorhead sends a clear message that antisocial and criminal behaviour involving e-rideables has no place in our community. “Outcomes from Operation Moorhead will be reviewed to guide further action. “The Cook Government will continue to build safe communities so Western Australians feel secure at home, work and where they live.”