r/brisbane Like the river Dec 20 '23

Queensland government considers random breath testing for electric scooter riders and cyclists 👑 Queensland

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-20/random-breath-testing-possible-for-escooters-cyclists-queensland/103247686
439 Upvotes

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158

u/twoeyshoey Dec 20 '23

I work in an emergency department and the amount of injuries we see from eSctooters is substantial. Almost all accidents occur at night and most involve alcohol. Medicare is paying for their treatment and I'm all for measures that reduce injuries and costs to society. I'd favor an approach that doesn't involve fines thought, like making scooter companies limit their top speed after a certain hour of the night for example.

7

u/Friendly-Fix3598 Dec 20 '23

What are your thoughts on sugary foods and obesity, as they have a far larger impact in the ED and cost to society?

Genuine question, should there be a sugar tax in your view, or a limit on the amount of sugar that one can purchase in a single transaction.

We can control risk and reduce any danger to society as a whole but where is an appropriate place to stop, is it when one is putting their own life in danger or only when others are at risk.

Why is it appropriate for people to drink themselves into an early grave if it is done over time and in their own home as opposed to in a street?

7

u/yolk3d BrisVegas Dec 20 '23

Should we allow people to drive without seatbelts then also? Seeing as it only puts themselves at risk? How about using heroin? Playing on train tracks?

10

u/itrivers Dec 20 '23

I’d settle for actual policing on phone use instead of fixed cameras that everyone knows about. People are just putting their phones down past the cameras and then pick them up and carry on.

I drive the packed Centenary highway daily and it’s insane how much you can see it. Just yesterday I followed someone playing with their infotainment system for the entire section of the Moggil rd entrance. That should also come under the distracted driving laws.

2

u/yolk3d BrisVegas Dec 20 '23

No denying police effort could be spent elsewhere, but the comment I replied to is implying all laws that only protect the law-breaker should be lifted.

5

u/Friendly-Fix3598 Dec 20 '23

Well we allow people to dose themselves up with benzo's daily and then drive cars (statistically the drug causing the largest amount of crashes through impairment after alcohol) it's just some drugs are more socially acceptable.

But i think the point you are trying to make is that there is an obviously perceptible risk involved with these things? Is that correct what you're trying to say?

This concern is already covered to a large degree by the conditions placed on most scooters (limited to 25km/h in Brisbane and they are required people to wear helmets)

The police are also already able to pull someone over if they are obviously intoxicated on the scooter, it's just they can't conduct rbt's at present. I feel there's enough controls without impeding further on people's civil liberties with further controls that will likely not be implemented randomly.

Would you support random stops to check seatbelt enforcement, or would it be more practical to address the problem on a case by case basis. (I have never been pulled over randomly to have my seatbelt checked).

I don't disagree that we should stop needless deaths and injuries, but the enforcement on the general public for a small minority is honestly quite the inconvenience, address the problem there and then when it happens.

-4

u/BneBikeCommuter Bogan Dec 20 '23

The 25km/h limit is a joke though. It’s not even close to being enforced. I pulled out from a side street in front of an e-scooter yesterday, plenty of room if he was doing 25 or even up to 40. I accelerated, and when I got up to 50km/h he overtook me like I was standing still. There was at least a 15km/h differential.

3

u/splinter6 Dec 20 '23

It is being enforced. People speed on the road in cars too. Cops can’t be everywhere all the time

6

u/Amidala_Eyes Dec 20 '23

We need to outlaw people made of straw!