E-scooter rider’s death: All-round efforts needed to guide use of PMDs

I am saddened to read the report, “52-year-old man dies after e-scooter accident at Bedok Reservoir” (Nov 30). To prevent such unfortunate accidents from happening again, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) must urgently continue to step up efforts to enforce the ruling that personal mobility devices (PMDs) such as e-scooters cannot be used on the roads.

It is one death too many and I hope the family will find support in this difficult time.

Apart from stepping up enforcement measures, the LTA should continue to work with partners to educate the public on the use of PMDs on the roads.

PMDs are banned from the main roads and for good reason. It endangers the safety of other road users when they are caught by surprise and have little reaction time. The use of PMDs also puts the rider at risk of injuries or even death.

Regulating the speed of these devices is not enough because in practice, many users do not follow the guidelines. The authorities need to work with the Traffic Police to ensure that users do not flout the rules and to clamp down on such riders.

The public should also be encouraged to report errant PMDs users to the authorities for further action to be taken.

Retailers selling these PMDs should know the regulations and advise potential buyers of the road safety guidelines. Sellers or buyers should also be penalised for carrying out unauthorised modifications to these devices to increase the maximum speed.

Riders themselves should get insurance to safeguard themselves in the event of an accident.

To keep pedestrians safe, existing food paths should be widened and demarcated so that everyone can learn to share these paths and not ride recklessly on the main roads.

Furthermore, ramping up efforts to foster a culture of graciousness and consideration for each other when using roads is essential in ensuring that active mobility on the roads is not taken for granted.