Neuron and Brake NZ partner on e-scooter safety

Australia and New Zealand e-scooter operator Neuron Mobility is collaborating with Brake New Zealand to lead the way in best practice for shared e-scooter safety across the country.

The partnership will include a review of all Neuron’s rider education materials, co-developing safety campaigns, plus a review and evaluation of Neuron’s safety data in New Zealand.

Neuron’s safety-leading e-scooters have a range of world firsts and pioneering safety features including geofencing control, integrated helmets, a 111 emergency button, voice guidance, topple detection and ‘Follow my Ride’.

Brake is a national road safety charity that works to prevent road deaths and injuries and support people bereaved and injured in crashes across New Zealand.

The organisation provides information and advice, through resources, events and training to help Kiwis be safer, sustainable and active road users.

Alongside assessing safety materials, Brake will be conducting independent research to compare e-scooters with other modes of transport, to assess safety and other factors affecting how New Zealanders travel in our cities.

“Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Neuron so we are delighted to partner with Brake, as the leaders in crash prevention across New Zealand,” Neuron Mobility chief executive Zachary Wang says.

“This year we have been rolling out ScootSafe campaigns in Auckland and Dunedin, with a team of safety ambassadors on the ground to remind people of the rules and top safety tips and guidelines. This partnership is the next step in our ongoing safety education programme,” he adds.

 “Neuron and Brake share a common goal which is to keep people safe and prevent incidents on the road. We are excited to do our bit in educating riders on how to enjoy rental e-scooters in a safe way.”

 This partnership marks an important step in ensuring shared e-scooter programmes are matched by rigorous user education, particularly as more New Zealand cities adopt the new mode of transport, Wang explains.

“E-scooters provide a sustainable, alternative form of transport that can help to reduce congestion and emissions,” Brake NZ director Caroline Perry says.

 “As more New Zealand cities embrace this new form of transport, we look forward to working together with Neuron to educate the public on how to Scoot Safe. We want to urge riders not to be complacent, please don’t drink and ride, and do wear a helmet – Neuron’s e-scooters all have one provided, so use them to protect yourself, even on the shortest trip.”

The combination of GPS and geofencing technology, pioneered by Neuron, allows councils to dictate and control exactly where e-scooters can be ridden and parked, and how fast they can travel in different areas.

This technology can be used to create ‘slow zones’, where the maximum riding speed is automatically reduced, such as around a school.

It can also be used to create ‘no-go’ zones and ‘no parking’ zones, giving councils the power to control the travel of e-scooters through a particular area, and to determine where they are allowed to be left.