Perth E-Scooter Collision Leaves Pedestrian in Critical Condition

The rider, 24, was under alcohol influence and escaped with minor injuries.

A woman grabs an electric scooter for hire in Perth, Western Australia, on March 18, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

A 24-year-old tourist has been remanded in custody after allegedly striking a pedestrian while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol in Perth’s city centre over the weekend.

The incident, which occurred around 8:40 p.m. on May 31, has left a 51-year-old man in critical condition at Royal Perth Hospital.

According to Western Australia (WA) Police, the woman was riding the e-scooter with a female passenger when she collided with the man at the intersection of Murray Street and King Street in the CBD.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and transported the injured pedestrian to hospital, where he remains in a life-threatening condition.

The 24-year-old rider suffered minor injuries and did not require hospitalisation, while her 26-year-old passenger was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The rider has been charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and bodily harm while under the influence of alcohol.

She remains in custody as the investigation, led by detectives from the Major Crime Division, continues.

Authorities are calling for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Rise in E-Scooter Injuries Sparks Safety Concerns

The incident is the latest in a series of accidents involving e-scooters across Australia, as the popularity of the vehicles continues to surge.

A 2024 study from the Royal Melbourne Hospital revealed 256 e-scooter-related injuries in a 12-month period ending January 2023, nine of which involved pedestrians.

The cost of hospitalisations from these incidents totalled nearly $2 million. In Queensland, emergency presentations linked to e-scooters jumped from 279 in 2019 to 877 in 2022.

By September 2023, the figure had already reached 801, with the full-year count expected to surpass previous records.

Lately, the government has launched an enquiry into the safety of the device.

WA has seen a particularly sharp rise in hospital admissions related to e-scooter crashes, with trauma data showing a near 200 percent annual increase between 2017 and 2022.

Alcohol, Speed and Shared Paths

Under WA law, e-scooters—or eRideables—are treated as vehicles, meaning riders must follow the same rules that apply to other road users.

This includes mandatory helmet use, obeying speed limits, and prohibitions against carrying passengers or operating while intoxicated.

On footpaths and pedestrian crossings, eRideables must not exceed 10km/h, while a maximum of 25km/h is allowed on bike paths, shared paths, and some local roads.

Riders are also banned from using mobile phones and must maintain control of their device at all times.

The law is clear: drinking and riding an e-scooter is treated the same as drink driving.