E-scooter rider fined maximum $2,500 for collision with 9-year-old boy
An e-scooter rider who collided with a nine-year-old boy at an HDB block was fined the maximum $2,500 on Friday (9 March).
Qin Jian, a 32-year-old Chinese national, was riding his e-scooter at Blk 607 Clementi West Ave 2 on 5 July last year and failed to slow down as he reached the lift lobby. The boy suffered abrasions on his right elbow and wrist, and on his left knee as a result of the collision.
Prior to the collision, the boy was coming down the stairs from the block while his father was waiting at a nearby carpark for his son. When the boy screamed after being hit by the e-scooter, the father ran over to attend to his son. He then called the police.
Qin, who was a logistics manager, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing hurt by committing a negligent act in the State Courts. Anyone who is convicted of the offence faces a jail term of up to six months, or a maximum fine of $2,500, or both.
Urging District Judge Adam Nakhodan to impose a light fine, Qin said he no longer uses an e-scooter for transport and now travels around by bus.
Earlier Friday, two other e-scooter users were charged in separate cases in court for allegedly hurting pedestrians while riding their devices.
On Wednesday (7 March), Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min announced in Parliament that a mandatory e-scooter registration regime will be introduced by the end of this year to deter reckless riders and help law enforcement officers track down such riders.
The registration process will require e-scooter owners to submit their personal particulars and paste identification stickers prominently on their devices.
In January, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament that users of personal mobility devices (PMDs), such as e-scooters, cause about three accidents a week.
According to Khaw, about 110 accidents involving users of PMDs were recorded between January and September last year. About 30 of such accidents involved pedestrians using public walkways.
