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Are electric scooter safer than car?

Table of Contents

No, e-scooters are not safer than cars. Cars have safety features such as seat belts, airbags, and structural design that protect occupants in the event of an accident. 

E-scooters lack these safety features and offer no protection in the event of a collision. Additionally, e-scooters are more vulnerable to accidents due to their smaller size and lower visibility on the road.

 

How dangerous are electric scooter

According to the research by the National Library of Medicine, on 3,331 e-scooter injury patients over 34 months, it is found that:

  • 6-fold increase in e-scooter injury cases, from 26.9 to 152.6 per month after the introduction of shared e-scooter services in 2018. 
  • Average injury rate during weekdays was 3.27 per day, mostly in the afternoon. 
  • Most common mechanism of injury was rider fall (79.1%). 
  • 2,637 orthopedic injuries, including 599 fractures (22.7%). 
  • 296 patients (8.9%) hospitalized after ED admission. 
  • 462 surgeries performed within 7 days of ED arrival.
electric scooters injuries chart by Statista
Source: Statista

Why electric scooter accidents are increasing?

According to report of Euro News, 60% of individuals involved in electric scooter accidents in 2022 were male. Of these male individuals, 51% were reported to have been operating the scooter while under alcohol.

There are also a few reasons for which electric scooter accidents are increasing:

  1. Lack of protective gear and helmets. 
  2. Reckless and inexperienced riders. 
  3. Distracted riding, including texting and phone usage. 
  4. Poor road infrastructure and lack of dedicated lanes. 
  5. Increased traffic on roads and crowded sidewalks. 
  6. Poorly maintained scooters, causing malfunctions. 
  7. Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 
  8. Poor weather conditions, such as rain and ice. 
  9. Higher speeds of e-scooters compared to traditional ones. 
  10. Lack of regulations and enforcement of scooter usage laws.

Car accident in 2023

According to a report by Forbes:

  1. One fatal car accident occurs every 15 minutes in the U.S. 
  2. There was a 7% increase in the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents from 2019 to 2020. 
  3. Males were more likely to die or be injured in collisions compared to females. 
  4. More than 6,500 people aged 65 and older died in motor vehicle accidents in 2020. 
  5. Over 230,000 people aged 65 and older were injured in crashes in 2020.

 

Final Thought

Electric scooters, while convenient and fun to ride, can be dangerous due to a combination of factors. Research has shown a significant increase in injury cases since the introduction of shared e-scooter services, with most accidents resulting from rider falls.

Compared to electric scooters, cars have been found to be involved in fatal accidents on a much larger scale.

Electric scooters and cars can be dangerous and pose risks to riders and drivers. However, it is important to consider the statistics and take the necessary precautions to minimize the chances of accidents. This includes wearing protective gear, being aware of the road and traffic conditions, and avoiding distracted or reckless behavior.