Who can ride them? Where can they go? And what happens if you get caught doing the wrong thing?
With police increasingly encountering illegal use and safety concerns, it’s time to get up to speed.
The News spoke with local authorities to understand the current regulations, the risks and what you need to know before hopping on.
E-scooter riders must be 16 or older, wear a helmet and not go beyond a top speed of 20 km/h.
So, if you’re a parent who has gifted one to a primary-aged child to scoot down to school — it’s illegal.
Riders are allowed on shared paths, bike paths and roads with a speed limit of up to 60 km/h. If riding at night or in low light, their e-scooter must have working front and rear lights.
They must also park responsibly and, if using a hired e-scooter, stick to approved areas.
However, there are also clear rules about what you can’t do.
Riding on footpaths is off-limits, as is using an e-scooter capable of speeds over 25 km/h or riding on roads with a speed limit over 60 km/h.
Riders must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol — you can be breath-tested and even lose your licence.
Using a mobile phone while riding, carrying passengers or animals, or riding side by side with another e-scooter is also prohibited.
It’s not a long list of rules, but nonetheless, it’s common to see riders ignoring them altogether.
The concern is: when will someone be seriously injured due to a lack of care and responsibility?
Police Eastern Region Division Three Inspector Troy Hargadon said officers were seeing more and more people using e-scooters around Shepparton, but unfortunately, many riders were either unaware of the rules or simply ignoring them.
“Our message is simple — we want everyone to get home safely, whether they’re on an e-scooter, a pushbike, or crossing the street,” he said.
“Wearing a helmet, riding safely and sticking to the road rules can prevent serious injuries and even save lives.”
A range of penalties are in place to enforce the rules, deter unsafe behaviour and ensure riders take responsibility for their actions on the road — and these are just a few of a much larger list of fines.
Riding a non-compliant e-scooter — such as one capable of travelling faster than 25 km/h — is considered using an unregistered motor vehicle and will cost a rider $988.
Failing to wear a helmet carries a $395 fine, and riding under the age of 16 is a $296 offence.
Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol results in a minimum fine and could see a rider’s licence or learner permit cancelled, along with other penalties.
“Police have issued both fines and warnings for unsafe e-scooter use, and there have been several collisions involving e-scooters already this year,” Insp Hargadon said.
“Both our uniformed officers and highway patrol members are regularly monitoring e-scooter use, and we’ll continue to take action when riders put themselves or others at risk.”
As e-scooter use continues to grow, so too does the importance of staying safe, keeping up to date with the regulations, and doing the right thing.
For further information, please visit E-scooter road rules - Transport Victoria.
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