The death of Madam Ong Bee Eng, 65, on Wednesday has renewed the debate over the use of e-scooters. She collided with an e-scooter while on her bicycle and died of her injuries. A 20-year-old man has been arrested and police are investigating the case as one of causing death by a rash act. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel reacted with fresh recommendations to the Transport Ministry on Friday, including that riders must pass a theory test and be aged at least 16. The panel’s announcement came shortly before news that a 30-year-old had died in hospital on Tuesday after apparently losing control and falling off his e-scooter. The clamour to ban such devices has not died down despite government efforts to address safety issues. The latest deaths add to public concerns. The Government has said a ban is not the solution. Regulations such as registration and limits on modifications were imposed after complaints, and rules like banning personal mobility devices (PMDs) at void decks were announced.

Welcome as the latest recommendations are, they still come across as reactive, which begs the question whether the implications of PMD usage were fully considered before being green-lighted. PMD users still flout rules, suggesting that more must be done to put the brakes on speed, enforce regulations, and educate and train users. A minimum age of 16 is a start, but many accidents involve older users. On the supply side, there must be stronger deterrents to selling modified PMDs, which, like bike rentals, are part of the push to ease first-and last-mile transport for commuters and encourage a car-lite city. While the end is laudable, the means needs fixes. The latest casualties show the regulations have not fully addressed the dangers of usage. Enforcement needs stepping up and deterrent measures, from fines to jail terms, need to be imposed more stringently so PMD users understand clearly the price of reckless riding.