•More than half of drivers believe kids should not use e-bikes or e-scooters for the school commute.
•39 per cent believe electric powered devices should not be allowed in school zones at all.
•Aussie drivers admit to still doing the wrong thing behind the wheel – with one in ten admitting to being involved in an accident or near-miss in or around a school zone.
Australia’s leading insurer AAMI has released new research showing the latest transport craze has hit a nerve with worried drivers, with 70 per cent opposing their use in school zones outright as “too dangerous” or citing children’s lack of safe riding knowledge and insufficient legislation as key issues.
A recent rise in serious crashes involving young people and electric-powered bikes and scooters has heightened concerns.
With millions of students starting back at schools across the country, the findings show Aussie drivers want action, with more than a third (39 per cent) agreeing that these devices should be banned from school zones altogether, where they are illegal for under 16s in most states.
Several schools in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia have already introduced bans on school grounds from the start of this year.
What’s got us worried? Speed, visibility and inexperience top the list of concerns.
• Speed: 67 per cent of us are sweating over how fast these e-bikes and e-scooters can go.
• Awareness: Over half (52 per cent) are concerned about children’s lack of road rule knowledge (navigating intersections, roundabouts), and 41 per cent worry about them riding near busy roads.
• Visibility: 40 per cent are concerned that drivers won’t see kids on these e-devices.
Australian drivers are not perfect either, with widespread risky behaviours being admitted to in and around school zones, including:
• Non-compliance: One in five (21 per cent) admit they have sped through a school zone because they didn’t notice the signs, and almost one in ten have intentionally sped because they didn’t see children around.
• Confusion: More than a third (35 per cent) are baffled by school zones – including speed limits, timings and what the signs mean. A further quarter admit they have been confused by their school’s ‘Stop, Drop and Go’ zone rules.
• Distraction: 13 per cent admit being distracted by their phone either while driving through a school zone or queuing in a school ‘Stop, Drop and Go’ zone.
What would change our minds?
• More than 90 per cent of Australian drivers say helmets are a must – no helmet, no ride, no exceptions.
• Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) want mandatory lower speed modes/settings locked in.
• Over half (58 per cent) believe children should be restricted to bike paths or shared paths, not roads.
Some drivers want wider footpaths, more bike lanes and tougher speed rules, but 28 per cent say nothing will make them comfy with kids on e-bikes or e-scooters.
What the experts say:
AAMI Motor Claims Manager, Leah James
AAMI Motor Claims Manager Leah James said the findings highlight an urgent need to improve awareness of safety and legal requirements, particularly among parents, as the use of electric-powered bikes and scooters becomes more common among young people.
“As e-bikes and e-scooters become more accessible, children are increasingly using them to get to and from school — but the community clearly has significant safety concerns.”
“These high-powered devices can weigh as much as motorbikes, and if you’re involved in a collision with one, especially as a pedestrian, you can be left with catastrophic and life-long injuries.
“Drivers are confused, distracted, and don’t always follow road rules. When you add fast-moving devices – like e-bikes and e-scooters, driven by kids with limited road safety experience, you’ve got a recipe for chaos.
“We want families, schools and drivers to understand the risks, know the rules, and have the right conversations to keep children safe on the roads to and from school this year.”
Australian Road Safety Foundation Founder and Chair, Russell White
“Many Australians may not be aware that in several states, it is illegal for children under 16 to ride e-bikes and e-scooters, Mr White said.
“There are some exceptions. In Queensland, 12–15-year-olds are allowed to ride personal mobility devices under close adult supervision. In New South Wales, children 16 and older can ride shared e-scooters under the current trial, but personal e-scooters remain illegal unless on private property.
“There are also strict rules around where these devices can be used, helmet requirements, speed limits, passengers, mobile phone use, riding under the influence and equipment such as lights and bells for night riding.
“School zones are busy enough without adding turbo-charged kids into the mix. Not only could they potentially injure themselves, but they could also injure another child or pedestrian.
“We want the 2026 school year to be memorable for all the right reasons for Australian families – and that means putting down the phone, paying attention in school zones, and following the road rules – because they are there to keep everyone, especially our kids, safe.”
Media Release: AAMI
