Electric scooters have rapidly become a popular mode of urban transport, offering convenience for commuters and a fun way for tourists to explore cities. With over 130 American cities now boasting e-scooter-sharing programs, and the North American market projected to grow significantly, these micromobility vehicles are here to stay.
However, this surge in popularity has come with a concerning rise in injuries, prompting a crucial look into the inherent risks. While often perceived as a low-risk option, safety reports paint a different picture, revealing alarming statistics and persistent challenges that riders and pedestrians face. It’s imperative for current and prospective riders to understand these dangers to make informed decisions and prioritize safety.
We delve into the key findings from recent safety reports to shed light on the most critical risks associated with electric scooter use, ensuring you’re well-equipped with the knowledge to navigate urban environments responsibly.
1. **The Soaring Statistics of Scooter-Related Injuries**The convenience of electric scooters unfortunately comes at a significant cost, as evidenced by a dramatic increase in injury rates across the United States. A 2023 report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) highlighted that from 2017 to 2022, there were 360,800 emergency room visits related to micromobility vehicles. A staggering 169,300 of these visits, or 47%, were specifically linked to electric scooters.
Even more concerning, the CPSC recorded 233 micromobility-related deaths during that six-year period, with nearly half (111) resulting from e-scooter incidents. These fatalities typically arose from collisions with cars or control issues. In 2024 alone, the number of electric scooter injuries rose by 80%, from 64,312 to 115,713, demonstrating a clear upward trend that demands immediate attention from riders.
2. **The False Sense of Security and Rider Behavior**Many individuals mistakenly view electric scooters as very low-risk, which often contributes to reckless riding behaviors. Dr. Eric Cioe-Peña, an associate professor of emergency medicine, notes, “People view scooters as very, very low risk for some reason, but we do see broken wrists, head injuries, neck injuries, cervical injuries. Those are all very common.”
This perception often leads riders to ignore traffic rules, such as blowing past stop signs, and to neglect essential protective equipment, especially helmets. Recent research suggests that electric scooters are not intrinsically dangerous; rather, it is the behavior or riding style of their users that keeps injury levels high among both riders and pedestrians. Rider inattention, for instance, accounts for a significant 45% of all e-scooter accidents.
3. **The Critical Importance of Head Protection**One of the most sobering statistics in e-scooter safety concerns head injuries, which are consistently identified as a major risk. In 2024, 20,960, or 18.42%, of all e-scooter injuries were head injuries, and this figure does not even include injuries to the face and sensory organs. The head, along with the joints of the extremities, commonly bears the brunt of a fall.
Experts repeatedly emphasize that helmets save lives. Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, stresses that kids need “appropriate safety gear… They should be wearing helmets.” Studies show that e-scooter riders are 2.3 times more likely to sustain head injuries when riding without helmets, and helmets can reduce head injury severity by up to 70%. Despite this critical protection, helmet use among e-scooter riders remains alarmingly low, often as little as 2%.
4. **Navigating the Treacherous Urban Landscape**Electric scooters are particularly vulnerable to road imperfections, making pavement quality a significant factor in accident rates. Alex Engel, a spokesperson for NACTO, explains, “With e-scooters, the center of gravity is much higher because you’re standing on them, and because the wheels are much smaller and there’s in general much less shock (absorption), pavement quality tends to matter a lot more than it does for bikes or e-bikes.”
Road hazards such as potholes or small objects on the road contribute to approximately 20% of injuries involving scooter falls. Additionally, roughly 20% of crashes occur when riders attempt to evade suddenly appearing obstacles or pedestrians. While bike lanes offer safer spaces, many cities lack comprehensive networks, forcing e-scooter riders onto city streets, where roughly 65% of crashes predominantly occur, further elevating the risk.
5. **The Alarming Trend of Injuries Among Young Riders**The convenience and appeal of electric scooters have unfortunately led to a disproportionate rise in injuries among younger demographics. In 2024 alone, the number of children under 15 injured by electric scooters more than doubled, soaring from 8,159 to 17,641. This age group (0-14) now experiences more injuries than any group from age 35 upwards, with the 15-24 age bracket incurring the highest percentage of all e-scooter injuries at 23.24%.
This troubling trend suggests that as the market expands and scooters become more accessible, often as gifts, younger riders are increasingly exposed to risks. Pediatric emergency physician Daniel Rosenfield highlights that many parents may not realize these scooters can accelerate from zero to 40 km/h in mere seconds. This speed, combined with a child’s still-developing emotional and cognitive abilities to understand spatial awareness and navigate traffic, creates a significant hazard comparable to driving a car without proper training.
The increasing proportion of injuries among those 14 or younger, rising from 10.68% in 2021 to 15.26% in 2024, underscores a critical gap in safety education and enforcement. These younger riders often lack formal training or licensing, making them less familiar with traffic patterns and rules, which exacerbates their vulnerability in urban environments.
6. **The Grave Consequences of Impaired Riding**Riding an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs presents a severe risk, leading to a significant number of accidents and injuries each year. In 2024, more than 10,000 e-scooter injuries involved driving under the influence, with 8,699 incidents linked to alcohol and 2,515 to recreational drugs. This highlights a dangerous trend where judgment and motor skills are compromised, turning a convenient ride into a perilous journey.
The statistical evidence is stark: riding while intoxicated disproportionately leads to head injuries. A striking 68% of alcohol-related e-scooter injuries result in head trauma, a figure dramatically higher than the 28% observed in non-alcohol-related incidents. This risk is particularly worrying among younger demographics, as a North Dakota State University study found that children aged 10 to 17 had 7.5 times greater odds of alcohol-involved emergency department visits compared to adults under 40.
Furthermore, the legal ramifications of riding an e-scooter under the influence can be severe. While regulations vary by state, many jurisdictions classify impaired e-scooter operation as a DUI offense, carrying penalties similar to those for driving a car while intoxicated. This adds a layer of legal risk to the already high physical danger, emphasizing the importance of responsible decision-making before taking to the streets.
7. **Identifying Peak Times and Risky Locations for Accidents**Understanding when and where electric scooter accidents are most likely to occur is crucial for mitigating risks. The danger for e-scooter riders peaks during the summer months, particularly in July, which saw 14,424 injuries in 2024, significantly higher than the low of 3,950 in January. Weekends also stand out as high-risk periods, with 16.29% of all injuries in 2024 happening on Saturdays and 15.12% on Sundays, a pattern indicative of increased leisure-oriented use.
Beyond seasonal and weekly trends, the time of day plays a critical role. E-scooter injuries are most common during evening and nighttime hours, specifically between 6 PM and midnight, with approximately 35% of incidents occurring between 8 PM and 2 AM. Riders involved in nighttime accidents are three times more likely to sustain serious injuries, underscoring the reduced visibility and altered environmental conditions that contribute to heightened risk after dark.
Geographically, urban areas account for a staggering 85% of all e-scooter injuries, with 65% of crashes predominantly occurring on city streets rather than designated bike lanes. Reports indicate that 78% of injuries are reported in urban parks and streets, often in places where riders are forced to share space with vehicular traffic or pedestrians. This contrasts with places like New Zealand, where permissive laws allowing e-scooters on sidewalks contribute to a disproportionately high density of accidents, with 654 per million people annually, highlighting how local regulations and infrastructure profoundly impact rider safety.
As electric scooters continue to integrate into our urban fabric, offering undeniable convenience and a nimble way to navigate crowded streets, it is paramount that riders approach them with informed caution. The burgeoning statistics and detailed safety reports paint a clear picture: while the thrill of an e-scooter ride is appealing, the potential for severe injury, particularly among the young and the impaired, is alarmingly high. By understanding the common pitfalls—from neglecting safety gear and succumbing to reckless behaviors to navigating treacherous road conditions and avoiding impaired riding—we can collectively strive for safer micromobility. Prioritizing awareness, adhering to local laws, and making responsible choices are not just recommendations; they are essential for transforming electric scooters from a source of growing concern into a truly sustainable and safe urban transport solution.
