Rider knowledge and self-reported compliance with e-scooter speed limits

Introduction: E-scooter use and injuries have risen, prompting governments to tighten regulations. Knowledge of, and compliance with, the relevant regulations are poor in many jurisdictions. This study includes private and shared riders and measures both perceived compliance (respondents’ own beliefs about speed limits) and reported compliance (after respondents were told the legal limits), allowing a more careful examination of how knowledge may relate to compliance. Method: Riders were surveyed on their knowledge of speed limits and self-reported compliance in Queensland, Australia, in April and December 2024, and in April 2025, following a reduction in the footpath speed limit from 25 km/h to 12 km/h in November 2022. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we estimated two knowledge models (Model 1: 2024; Model 2: 2025) and two compliance models: perceived compliance (Model 3: 2024, based on respondents’ self-reported speed limits) and reported compliance (Model 4: 2025, after respondents were told the legal limits). Results: Knowledge of speed limits was low and fell further in 2025. Models 1 and 2 showed that rider type (shared, private or mixed use) and riding frequency predicted correct knowledge. Older and female respondents reported greater compliance, while more frequent riders reported lower compliance. Self-reported speed limits for other (non-footpath) locations were consistently negatively associated with perceived and reported compliance. By contrast, self-reported speed limits on footpath had no significant association with perceived compliance, and showed only a weak, borderline-significant association with reported compliance (Model 4). Effect sizes were modest throughout. Conclusions: Knowledge of e-scooter speed limits was poor, but riders more commonly underestimated than overestimated speed limits, particularly on non-footpaths. Over-estimation of the speed limit was associated with lower perceived and reported compliance (in non-footpath locations), though the evidence for this pattern was based on modest path coefficients. Practical Applications: Recommendations for improvement made.