WA Police Seek Ban on High-Speed E-Scooters After Fatal Crash

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Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) Commissioner Col Blanch has called for a ban on importing high-powered electric scooters following the tragic death of a pedestrian in Perth, prompting a parliamentary inquiry into stricter regulations.

Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) Commissioner Col Blanch urged a ban on importing high-powered electric scooters during a parliamentary inquiry on August 6, 2025, following the death of 51-year-old pedestrian Thanh Phan in Perth’s Central Business District (CBD). Phan was fatally struck by a hired e-scooter on May 31, 2025, sparking widespread concern over e-rideable safety. The inquiry, initiated by the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee, is examining tougher regulations after five e-rideable-related deaths in Western Australia since January 2024, as reported by WAtoday. Blanch highlighted the dangers of devices capable of speeds up to 110 km/h, arguing they are essentially vehicles requiring stricter oversight, not e-rideables.

The incident involved 24-year-old British tourist Alicia Kemp, charged with dangerous driving occasioning death while under the influence, with a blood alcohol level of 0.158, per ABC News. Phan, an engineer and father of two, died from a brain injury after the collision. The City of Perth suspended e-scooter hire services indefinitely, a move echoed by the City of Vincent and Kings Park, according to PerthNow. Blanch told the inquiry that pursuing speeding e-scooter riders poses risks to officers and the public, advocating for aerial tracking to enforce compliance instead.

Professor Dieter Weber, head of trauma at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), underscored the severity of e-scooter injuries, noting daily admissions for serious trauma, comparable to motorcycle accidents at 70 km/h, per WAtoday. The inquiry, launched by Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby, is exploring night-time curfews, footpath bans, and geo-fencing technology to limit e-scooter use in high-traffic areas. Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner suggested regulating high-powered devices separately, arguing for technological enhancements like helmet-detection cameras, according to ABC News.

Public sentiment shows frustration with lax enforcement, with users calling for stronger penalties. The inquiry, set to deliver recommendations by September 2025, aims to balance safety with the practical use of e-rideables, amid concerns that current laws, limiting speeds to 10 km/h on footpaths and 25 km/h on roads, are widely ignored, per the Road Safety Commission’s May 2025 report.