South Australians are still getting their heads around the state’s new e-scooter laws, with new RAA research showing widespread confusion about some of the most basic rules now in force.
That includes the minimum age to ride, where riders can legally travel, and how fast they are allowed to go. The laws only came into effect on 13 July 2025, but the latest figures suggest many people are still not up to speed.
According to RAA, 85 percent of surveyed road users could not correctly identify the maximum speed limit for e-scooters on footpaths, which in South Australia is 10km/h. Another 80 per cent did not know the speed limit on roads, which is 25km/h.
The survey also found 77 per cent were unaware that riders must be at least 16 years old to use an e-scooter in a public area, while most respondents were unsure whether a minimum age existed at all.
That gap in awareness is raising concerns as e-scooters become more common across the state with rising living costs.
RAA says nearly a quarter of South Australian households now include someone who owns an e-scooter, with most using them for recreation and leisure, or for shopping and errands. SA Police figures cited by RAA show one person was killed and 63 people were injured in e-scooter crashes in South Australia in 2025.
RAA Senior Manager Road Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain said the results point to a real safety issue, especially as more families buy the devices without fully understanding the rules attached to them.
“RAA is concerned about people buying and riding e-scooters – including parents buying them for their kids – without knowing the laws that exist to protect them,” he said.
“E-scooters can be a convenient way for people to get around and complete short trips, but riders need to know the rules to keep themselves and others safe.”
South Australia’s current rules are:
- Riders must be at least 16 years old.
- Riders can only travel at a maximum of 25km/h on roads and dedicated bicycle paths and 10km/h on footpaths, shared paths and crossings.
- A helmet must be worn at all times (full face helmets are recommended)
- Use a suitable white front and red rear light on the device in low light and adverse conditions
- E-scooters are only allowed to be ridden on 60km/h roads when there is an operating bike lane – otherwise they must only be ridden on roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or less, or use the footpath and not exceed 10km/h.
- Other devices like e-skateboards are allowed to be ridden on roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or less, and must use the bike lane if there is one.
Mountain said rules around speed, age and helmet use were particularly important, and RAA is encouraging riders to take safety even further by choosing full-face helmets.
“It’s critical that laws like the minimum age and speed limits are followed, and that riders wear a suitable helmet to reduce the risk of crashes that cause injury or death,” he said.
“RAA recommends riders wear a full-face helmet, given the nature of serious facial injuries we’re seeing only too often in other jurisdictions who’ve had these e-scooter laws in for many years.”
The timing is important too. With the State Government set to review the laws later in 2026, RAA says more public education is urgently needed before bad habits become normalised. The organisation says it will soon launch a safety campaign aimed at riders and parents considering buying an e-scooter for their kids.
For now, the message is simple. E-scooters may be a handy way to get around, but they are not a free-for-all. As more South Australians jump on board, knowing the rules could make the difference between a smooth ride and a serious crash.
For the full regulations, riders can check the SA Government’s My Licence website.
