ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – With school back in session, many students are using e-bikes and electric scooters to get to class. While these can be convenient, some worry about the safety of students and those around them.
Recent studies show more than 20,000 people are injured on e-bikes annually. Recently, a 14-year-old in Volusia County was hit by a car while riding one.
This incident is one reason an Orange County woman is advocating for increased safety education for children who use electric vehicles to get to school.
[VIDEO BELOW: Witnesses lift vehicle off teen e-bike rider]
“I was just flabbergasted at how often I was almost struck by e-bikes,” Linda Sibley said.
She noticed more kids riding electric vehicles during her early-morning runs, often speeding, without helmets, or texting while driving.
“These kids are flying and they’re not even slowing down,” she said. “They’re not even looking to see if it’s a vehicle coming their way because they’re on the phone.”
Because of this, she started a petition to create an electric vehicle safety course for Orange County students. She is now asking the county board to make it a requirement through an ordinance.
“We need to have one of the commissioners step up and sponsor it, get staff involved and do an ordinance,” Sibley said.
She believes Orange County can follow the lead of states like California, which already have such courses to reduce accidents and fatalities.
“Not only should the child know all the laws, all the safety regulations, but the parents should have to know them as well, because I believe the parents need to be held accountable for the actions of their child,” Sibley explained. “I believe over time, as the parents are trained in this, that they will be training the younger siblings and their extended family about, ‘You know what, I took this course, and did you know?’ and share that information.”
Sibley also wants proof that students passed the course, like a sticker or ID they can put on their electric vehicle. She believes this would help enforce the mandate and identify children in case of an accident.