By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
NO matter how kids are arriving to school, it’s of utter importance they are getting there safely.
Victoria Police’s Morwell Proactive Policing Unit, and in partnership with Latrobe Regional Health, have begun undertaking educational seminars at local schools surrounding the risks and responsibilities of electronic scooters and electronic bikes (e-scooters and e-bikes), due to the growing popularity of its use among young people.
The first of such took place at Lavalla Catholic College’s junior campus, delivered to students Years 7 through 9, on Thursday, June 19.
Inspector Sonali Deshpande, Tasking and Coordinating Eastern Region Division 5 (which covers Latrobe, Bass Coast and Baw Baw) said that with the introduction of new legislation means further education needs to be presented at this age.
“What we want to know is they (students) should be aware about their obligations and the legislations,” she said.
“Road safety is a very important issue and it’s very unpredictable and uncertain. If you do not follow the road rules, if you are not careful, or if you are not a safe road user, you can put your life at risk or somebody else’s at risk.”
After state-wide public complaints regarding the irresponsible behaviours of those riding these electronically powered vehicles, the state government responded by introducing permanent rules for e-scooters late last year.
Tough penalties have been instilled, including an increase in the fine for failing to wear a helmet to $395 whilst riding, $296 for riding on a footpath, and $247 for carrying a passenger. E-scooter passengers are also liable for a new fine of at least $247, which increases to $642 if they are also failing to wear a helmet.
For those riding a non-compliant e-scooter, which is capable of travelling faster than 25km/h and is considered an unregistered motor vehicle, the fine is upwards of $988.
“In terms of policing what issues we are seeing, how we are approaching these issues as Victoria Police, are first via education … engaging with the school students as well as the local stakeholders,” Inspector Deshpande added.
“Second one we also look at from the enforcement perspective (is) issuing on-the-spot fines for the reckless or unsafe behaviours, not using helmets, riding on the footpath, or riding around pedestrians or other road users in a reckless manner.”
Although, Inspector Deshpande firmly stated that: “It’s more about education than issuing fines”.
The importance of this lecture for Lavalla and its students regards keeping both themselves and the surrounding community safe when these electronically powered vehicle are being used.
Making sure students are wearing the appropriate safety equipment, including adapting to conditions like at night time to remain visible just as a cyclist would, and avoiding footpaths and displaying reckless behaviour, especially around fellow road users.
Lavalla Catholic College Principal, Ryan Greer has noticed an increase in students using these e-bikes and e-scooters on their morning trips to school.
“It’s really important that our young people are both prioritising their safety and the community’s safety as well, so opportunities like today give us the chance to speak to them about regulation, what’s in place for them in the community, and education,” Mr Greer said.
“I think that it’s important as a community that we are all working together, and schools are microcosms of society, and having a really strong relationship with our local authorities and Victoria Police can only assist in assuring that everyone is on the same page.”
Mr Greer believed these seminars are helpful for his students, with a lot of misinformation on the matter spread online, and with how high-powered some of the devices are out there.
He added that students still arrive to school in various ways, including traditional methods via bus, parent drop-offs, riding pushbikes and walking, as well as e-scooters and e-bikes.
Lavalla junior school student, Gemma thought the police visit was very eye-opening to see the dangers of these devices, despite only riding them close to home with her friends.
“It showed how dangerous our roads can be if you’re not following the road safety rules, especially on transportation vehicles like e-bikes and e-scooters that you wouldn’t usually use,” she said.
Clinical Nurse Educator at Latrobe Regional Health, Emma Marino detailed the injuries that come from riding e-bikes and e-scooters unsafely, both pedestrians and the riders themselves.
“In emergency (wards), we usually see the consequences of people’s poor choices, and people sometimes wish they hadn’t done something,” she said.
“(The students) could be the person who decides that they make sure that they do make good choices that they minimise the risk, and they think about what the consequences could be, not only for themselves but for their family, and also for the wider community.”
For more information on the e-scooter road rules, visit: https://transport.vic.gov.au/road-rules-and-safety/e-scooter-road-rules
