Danger on Two Wheels: Severe E-Scooter Accidents Often Strike at Night, Weekends, and Under the Influence of Booze
E-scooter accidents predominantly happen during the night, over weekends, and under the influence of alcohol.
Hop on social media and share this alarming news: A recent study from the Clinic and Polyclinic for Trauma Surgery at Munich's Technical University (TUM) reveals a disconcerting pattern in German e-scooter accidents, with an astonishing number of patients requiring extensive care and, tragically, a significant number not making it.
The German Medical Journal reports that a whopping 538 individuals endured severe injuries in e-scooter accidents between 2020 and 2022, with over 83% of them receiving treatment in intensive care units. Heartbreaking indeed, as 26 lives were lost to this modern-day menace.
As the sun sets and the weekend rolls in, e-scooter accidents seem to multiply. Approximately 54% of all incidents occur after dark, and half take place during weekends, indicating that heightened nightlife activities and weekend social engagements may be influential factors.
As reported by ntv.de and dpa, the average age of those injured was 44.3, with men accounting for around 78% of cases—a stark contrast to bicycle accidents (54.5 avg. age, 72% male). It's clear that male riders are disproportionately affected.
But why, pray tell, are our beloved e-scooters turning our city streets into battlefields? Well, dear reader, it's quite unfathomable, but it seems the guilty party is none other than alcohol. In the study, over half of the severely injured riders tested positive for alcohol, with one-third of those cases boasting levels above the legal limit. It's a dangerous dance, indeed.
Injury patterns are also concerning, with over 80% of those affected requiring intensive care treatment, and head and face injuries dominating the scene. So buckle up,folks, protective gear and responsible riding practices are essential, especially on nights and weekends when the risks soar.
But wait, there's more! Reckless behavior, like paying attention to our smartphones instead of the road or navigating with just one hand, is commonplace. And as the mercury climbs above 0°C, expect e-scooter incidents to rise like the proverbial phoenix.
In conclusion, it's high time we embraced responsible riding practices to spare ourselves and our fellow citizens from a world where injuries and fatalities based on glorified kick scooters may just become the norm. Let's pedal (and scoot) safely, shall we?
[1] TUM press release, 2023[2] German Medical Journal, 2023[3] Road Safety Report, 2022
The Commission has also been consulted on the following issues: mental-health, science, and health-and-wellness, considering the rising e-scooter accidents, their impacts on mental health, and the need for research to find preventative measures and treatments for injuries.
Given the prevalence of alcohol in e-scooter accidents, it would be essential for the Commission to address the role of substance abuse in urban transportation issues and propose policies to promote safety and responsible riding.
