The popularity of electric scooters as a transportation method has exploded in popularity since they first hit the commuter scene in 2017. Over three years later, shared scooters are a popular transportation alternative in larger cities, with nearly 40 million trips per year taken on e-scooters.
As more and more people are turning to e-scooters as their go-to method for commuting, however, the numbers of corresponding injuries also climb in correlation. In 2018 alone, numbers of e-scooter-related injuries skyrocketed to nearly 16,000 across the United States. This begs the question: why are so many riders experiencing injuries?
Riders do not always wear helmets
According to an article on Marketwatch, many riders who sustain injuries report that they do not wear helmets when riding e-scooters. While most people understand the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle, at least 95% of riders involved in accidents state that they were not wearing helmets at the time. Although educational resources exist showing riders how to properly operate scooters, watching the videos remains optional.
Excessive speed is a contributing factor
In addition to not wearing enough safety gear, riders also report that accidents occur when they are traveling too fast. E-scooters t they are capable of traveling at around 15 miles per hour. If riders are zipping around the city at that speed, weaving in between people and cars, it is easy to see how accidents can occur.
The Centers for Disease Control put out a study calling for more education around operating e-scooters at a safe speed as well as wearing a helmet while riding them.
