The Government says it is open to changes to e-scooter rules after a sharp rise in ACC injury payouts.
New data released to Newstalk ZB shows ACC had paid out almost $15 million for scooter injuries last year, an increase of almost 50% on the year before.
ACC received 3400 new claims, a rise of almost 500 on the year before, with about a third of claims coming from Auckland.
Claim numbers increased across every age group, with almost one in four coming from people in their 20s.
About half of claims were for soft-tissue injuries, while more than one in 20 were for fractures and dislocations.
The Automobile Association (AA) has written to the outgoing and new transport and ACC ministers asking for regulations around e-scooter use to be updated to reflect the increased adoption of more modern, privately owned e-scooters.
Principal adviser Terry Collins said one current rule – requiring scooters over 300 Watts to only be used on private property – doesn’t correspond to reality.
“Nowadays you can buy 3.6-kilowatt e-scooters that are capable of 120km/h and can carry a 100kg person or two people,” he said.
Collins said riders should also be subject to drink- and drug-driving rules, should be banned from using phones while riding, should be required to wear helmets, and should be allowed to use cycleways and shared paths – as many already do.
“The regulation shouldn’t just be on the technology. It should follow how they’re used and where they’re used.”
New Transport Minister Chris Bishop said he’s open to some transport rules changes, including some of AA’s proposed changes like allowing e-scooters in cycle lanes.
He said there will be a vehicle regulation system review this year that will cover e-scooter rules.
The increase in costs and claims relating to e-scooters comes as ACC levies are set to rise steadily over each of the next three years.
Both earners’ and business levies will increase by up to 5% a year for the next three years, starting from April 1, after the state insurer reported a $7.2 billion loss in the year to June.
ACC said while it operates on a no-faults basis, it encouraged e-scooter users to wear a helmet, start off slowly and keep a safe distance from other people.
Lachlan Rennie is an Auckland-based Multimedia Journalist for Newstalk ZB covering science, technology, community issues, defence and general news. He previously studied journalism at the New Zealand Broadcasting School before joining NZME in 2024.
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