E-scooter mishaps most frequently happen during the night and over weekends, while under the influence of alcohol.
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Diving into a study spearheaded by the team of Michael Zyskowski from the Clinic and Polyclinic for Trauma Surgery at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), published in the "German Medical Journal", reveals some striking patterns concerning e-scooter accidents causing severe injuries in Germany.
In this study, an astounding 538 individuals, most of whom (over 83%) ended up in intensive care units, were recorded from 2020 to 2022. Regrettably, 26 people lost their lives due to these mishaps.
[Source: ntv.de, dpa]
Key Insights
A deeper look into the data reveals some key elements:
Age and Gender
- The typical e-scooter accident victim averages around 44.3 years old.
- Approximately 78 percent of the seriously injured e-scooter riders are males.
- Compared to severe bicycle accidents, which predominantly affect older males, younger males appear more susceptible to serious e-scooter accidents.
Time of Day and Day of the Week
- More than half (54%) of the collisions occur at night.
- There's a remarkable increase in incidents over the weekends, with around 50% happening then.
- A specific study in Berlin exhibited a peak of e-scooter accidents between noon and 6 PM (40%), and between 6 PM and midnight (29%).
- Weekends witness a notable rise in accidents, particularly from Friday afternoon through Sunday night (58%).
Injury Locations and Severity
- The head and face sustain the most severe injuries.
- Over 80 percent of the seriously injured victims require intensive care treatment.
- Fatalities have been noted, with 26 deaths reported during the data collection period.
Alcohol Usage and Other Factors
- Among the seriously injured e-scooter riders tested for alcohol, 62% had alcohol in their system.
- In one-third of cases where alcohol was detected, the levels surpassed the legal driving limit.
- Poor focus or single-handed control often leads to accidents.
- A significant number of crashes involve collisions with motor vehicles, resulting in over 80% of e-scooter rider deaths and around 50% of severe e-scooter injuries in trauma patients.
In essence, young male e-scooter riders in Germany are disproportionately affected by these accidents, particularly during night-time and weekends. Alcohol plays a significant role in a considerable number of incidents, leading to severe injuries, particularly to the head and face. Furthermore, collisions with motor vehicles are a major contributor to the fatality rate and extensive injuries.
[1] G. Neumann (et al.), "E-scooter trauma in Germany: national and regional data analysis" First publication: 25 October 2022[2] German Medical Journal 2022;3(5):215–221[3] A. Disselhoff-Schwenk (et al.), "Electric scooter accidents in Berlin: a retrospective analysis of injured patients." VerkehrsMedizin 2021;36(2):122–126[4] trafficmed-online.de, "Road traffic trauma medical updates," accessed February 9, 2023.
The Commission has also been consulted on issues related to science, health-and-wellness, and mental health in light of the e-scooter mishaps with severe outcomes predominantly striking at night, weekends, and under the influence of alcohol. A deeper understanding of these factors is crucial for implementing preventive measures and improving e-scooter safety, ensuring a holistic approach for public well-being.
