A new report by the United States’ Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) indicates that injuries from micromobility solutions like e-bikes and e-scooters are increasing by at least 20% every year. The report is titled Micromobility Products-Related Deaths, Injuries, and Hazard Patterns. The new report underscores the rising cases of injuries connected with the increasing use of electric bikes, electric scooters, and other micro-mobility solutions.
The rise in e-scooters/e-bikes adoption increases the chances of an e-scooter/e-bike accident happening
The electric revolution in micromobility has grown in leaps and bounds in the US, as well as other developed markets. The number of e-bikes, e-scooters, and other micromobility products is multiplying seemingly exponentially. This is a good measure to reduce carbon emissions in our cities and rural areas. The e-mobility revolution however has a flipside highlighted by a growing number of injuries and fatalities from accidents. The report specifically focused on the risks and injuries inherent in e-bike and e-scooter travel, especially for younger riders.
The CSPC report covers a period of five years, from 2017 to 2022 and the findings indicate that there is a significant increase in the percentage of injuries that could potentially be avoided. Safety measures like wearing a helmet, choosing safer places to ride, increasing visibility on the road, and avoiding distractions while riding will potentially help to prevent injuries. The most common injuries, according to the report, were fractures, contusions, and abrasions. The report also highlights that injuries from micromobility devices increased by about 21% in 2022 from the previous year.
Electric scooter injuries increased by 21% from 2021, with the bulk (about 50%) of injuries within the period (2017-2022) happening in 2022. The injuries associated with e-scooters and e-bikes occurred most frequently on streets and highways, according to the CSPC report. Hoverboard injuries decreased within the period and occurred mostly at home. Males accounted for the bulk of e-scooter (65%) and e-bike (75%) injuries while females (55%) had more hoverboard injuries.
The CSPC report aligns with previous studies which underscore the need for enhanced safety practices by riders to reduce injuries and damage from accidents. There is also an aspect of enforcement of safety rules (like making helmets compulsory) that could further eliminate potential injuries from the use of micromobility products.
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