More than a dozen hospitalised overnight in e-scooter crash spike

That inquiry – considering the vehicles’ benefits, but also safety issues, enforcement difficulties, and laws around importing high-powered variations – will resume hearings next week.

Top police, transport department officials, Gold Coast school leaders, and stakeholder groups are set to give evidence over three days.

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The government has put the onus for the vehicles’ safety back on parents ahead of Christmas, particularly urging families not to buy their children illegal, high-powered models.

But key groups, including the RACQ and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, have urged police to ramp up enforcement of existing laws to push illegal electric bikes and scooters off the streets.

Police previously told the inquiry they were unable to chase down those riding dangerously or against the law because any pursuit could endanger pedestrians.

By far the most common fines handed to e-scooter riders across the state are for failing to wear a helmet.

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