Safety Concern

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

You may, or may not, have noticed, I worry about safety. As a parent, my biggest concern is kids safety.

Yesterday (Monday), I saw something that scared the heck out of me.

A kid in a HNI uniform riding an electric scooter along Campbell St, around 4.15pm. The scooter handles were up to his chin, standing straight upright, and he was flying. Literally flying. Every time he hit a bump his feet came up off the deck.
He was travelling too fast to avoid disaster, if someone came out of a driveway or stepped on front of him, as he was neither tall enough, nor heavy enough to control the scooter properly.

Please parents, rethink letting your small children ride electric scooters. E-scooters too big and too powerful for them. Not to mention the kids don’t have the sense of self preservation they need, to ride them safely.

ACC has up to date statistics for the past three years showing a jump in claims for e-scooter accidents. Especially in the 10-19 and 20-29 year old range.

Please, please, before your child becomes a statistic, consider, do they really need to travelling at up to 45kph, outside of a car, just to get to school, or hang with their mates.

If you wouldn’t put them on a 50cc motorbike without a licence, is an e-scooter safer, when it can travel just as fast. And kids make sure they do.