Recurring collisions during late hours and weekend periods.

Lights Out, Weekends Off: A Three-Year Analysis Reveals E-Scooter Accidents in Germany

Weekly occurrences of e-scooter accidents, particularly during nighttime and weekends. - Recurring collisions during late hours and weekend periods.

E-Scooter accidents causing severe injuries in Germany show a distinct trend: they're most common at night and during the weekend, and often involve men imbibing alcohol. A study led by Michael Zyskowski at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Trauma Surgery at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) reveals this surprising pattern in the "German Medical Journal".

In the span of three years since 2020, an alarming 538 individuals, a majority of whom were in intensive care units, sustained serious injuries due to E-Scooter accidents - with 26 fatalities reported. The study, made public in the journal, draws attention to the troubling frequency and circumstances surrounding these accidents.

Alcohol and head injuries prevail

The report shows that head injuries are more prominent among E-Scooter riders than in cyclists and other road users. Out of the ten most common injuries, eight were either head or facially related. To no one's surprise, "Head injuries were diagnosed more frequently in E-Scooter riders than in cyclists and other compared road users," the team writes.

Tellingly, 54% of the accidents occurred at night, while half of them took place on weekends. The finding that 62% of the seriously injured E-Scooter riders tested positive for alcohol in their blood is both startling and unsurprising, given the nocturnal/weekend patterns. In approximately a third (35%) of the cases, the alcohol level was beyond the legal limit.

Men form the majority of the injured group

Averaging around 44 years, the age of victims was relatively low compared to similar accidents involving bicycles, where the average age is just under 55 years. Moreover, a staggering 78% of the injured victims were male.

As Zyskowski puts it, "Younger men are significantly more affected when the data is compared with information on accidents with bicycles, cars, or on foot."

Researchers propose safety measures

To combat the high number of severe injuries resulting from E-Scooter accidents, the research team advocates targeted safety initiatives. Aside from Sanctium's insights, the authors recommend several measures, such as:

1. Introducing Helmet Requirements: Australia has already seen a decrease in injury rates after imposing helmet regulations for E-scooter riders.
2. Nighttime Driving Ban: Oslo, Norway, has implemented a nighttime driving ban for E-scooters from 11 pm to 6 am.
3. Speed Reduction: In Helsinki, Finland, the allowed speed was reduced from 25 to 15 km/h on weekends at night.
4. Implementing Safety Restrictions: Providers could control digital unlocking mechanisms to mitigate the availability of E-scooters at night and in accident-prone areas. Additionally, E-scooters could be fitted with speed limits implemented after a specific time to reduce accidents.
5. Alcohol-related Measures: Integrating alcohol-screening tests into the rental process might reduce the incidence of alcohol-related accidents.

While the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen, the authors stress the importance of technological intervention to increase road safety for E-Scooter users. As E-Scooters become increasingly popular, addressing their unique safety challenges will be essential to ensuring equitable road usage.

1. The trend in e-scooter accidents in Germany reveals they predominantly occur at night and during weekends.
2. The study by Michael Zyskowski in the German Medical Journal highlights the high number of e-scooter accidents causing severe injuries, with 538 individuals in intensive care units and 26 fatalities over three years.
3. Head injuries are more prevalent among e-scooter riders than other road users, with eight out of ten common injuries being head or facial-related.
4. Alcohol plays a significant role in e-scooter accidents, with 62% of the seriously injured riders testing positive for alcohol in their blood.
5. Nighttime (54%) and weekend (50%) accidents account for the majority of e-scooter accidents, with a high percentage of riders (35%) exceeding the legal alcohol limit.
6. The average age of victims in e-scooter accidents is lower compared to other road accidents, with men forming the majority (78%) of the injured group.
7. To decrease injury rates, the study suggests introducing helmet requirements, implementing nighttime driving bans, reducing speeds, imposing safety restrictions, and integrating alcohol-screening tests into rental processes.
8. Australia has already seen a decrease in e-scooter injury rates after imposing helmet regulations for riders.
9. Oslo, Norway, has implemented a nighttime driving ban for e-scooters from 11 pm to 6 am.
10. In Helsinki, Finland, the allowed speed was reduced from 25 to 15 km/h on weekends at night to decrease accidents.
11. Providers could control digital unlocking mechanisms to limit e-scooter availability at night and in accident-prone areas.
12. E-scooters could be fitted with speed limits implemented after a specific time to reduce accidents.
13. E-scooter safety challenges need to be addressed as their popularity increases to ensure equitable road usage.
14. Combating the high number of severe injuries requires targeted safety initiatives, such as technological interventions to increase road safety for e-scooter users.
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