E-scooters are a convenient and eco-friendly way to get around, but they present serious safety risks. Accidents may result in severe injuries and fatalities.
Review these important considerations about injuries involving e-scooters.
High speeds
Most e-scooters can travel around 20 miles per hour, which is comparable to how fast people ride a bicycle on city streets. Higher-end models are capable of reaching speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour or more.
Falls or collisions at high speeds can easily cause riders to sustain soft-tissue injuries or broken bones. Riders have a considerable risk of traumatic brain injury, particularly if they do not wear a safety helmet.
Sharing the road
The dynamics between drivers and e-scooter riders sharing the road are problematic for several reasons. It can be difficult for drivers to see e-scooters in their path. They have a very slim profile, and many models are not equipped with conspicuous lights. It can also be difficult to take notice when a rider is in close proximity because most e-scooters are almost entirely silent. Moreover, drivers everywhere are still learning how to share the road with e-scooters.
In recent years, public safety concerns prompted regulation putting limits on the use of e-scooters. Atlanta enacted an ordinance prohibiting e-scooter rentals after 9:00 pm, and surrounding areas outright banned the use of dockless, shared e-scooters.
As the use of e-scooters continues to gain traction, it is foreseeable that injuries in densely populated areas may continue to climb despite legislative efforts to keep people safe.
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