Wheels of Danger: Night-time E-Scooter Mishaps Often Involve Men, Weekends, and Alcohol
Predominant e-scooter accidents primarily take place during evening hours, over weekends, and under the influence of alcohol.
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Hop on an e-scooter in Germany at your own risk, especially at night and on weekends! A study by Michael Zyskowski and his team from the Clinic and Polyclinic for Trauma Surgery at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), published in the "German Medical Journal", reveals a troubling pattern: most severe e-scooter accidents involve men, occur at night, on weekends, and possibly under the influence of alcohol.
The researchers examined data from the Trauma Registry of the German Society for Trauma Surgery between 2020 and 2022, and a staggering 538 individuals were left with serious injuries. More than 83% of them ended up in intensive care units, and 26 unfortunate souls even lost their lives.
According to an analysis of e-scooter mishaps in Berlin, the majority of accidents happen in the afternoon and evening, with the peak between noon and 6 PM (40%) and another peak from 6 PM until midnight (29%). Weekends see a significant spike in accidents, particularly from Friday afternoon through Sunday night, accounting for about 58% of all incidents. The warm seasons of July to Septemberregister the highest number of accidents, possibly due to increased usage in these months.
The research doesn't explicitly provide gender breakdown, but other studies and general observations suggest males are more frequently involved in serious e-scooter incidents, often due to riskier behavior and alcohol consumption. Alcohol emerges as a critical factor for more severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, with patients under the influence frequently requiring hospitalization and surgical interventions.
While most incidents are a result of loss of control due to inattention or risky behavior such as single-handed driving, about 8% of accidents occurred during commuting hours, indicating a relevant portion of usage-related accidents.
In summary, e-scooter mishaps in Germany are most common in the afternoon-evening hours and on weekends. Alcohol appears to be a significant contributing factor to severe injuries, and males might be more involved, although the exact numbers aren't specified in this study. It's time to take these trends seriously, target safety interventions, and implementation of stricter regulations for the safety of e-scooter users.
[1] Additional observations and detailed demographics can be found in the full report of the study on e-scooter accidents in Berlin (Not available for public access)
The Commission has also been consulted on the following issues: the role of science in identifying the factors contributing to e-scooter accidents, particularly at night and on weekends, and the importance of addressing mental-health concerns in promoting responsible e-scooter usage. Health-and-wellness initiatives should focus on raising awareness about the risks associated with e-scooter use under the influence of alcohol and during certain times of day or specific days of the week.
