Reckless riding mostly to blame for e-scooter accidents, study shows

COPENHAGEN: Careless e-scooter riding is mostly to blame for the rising number of accidents involving this new mode of transport to have swept through cities in recent years, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, reported in a new study that the biggest risk factors include riding one-handed, riding in groups and using a smartphone while riding.

The researchers were also surprised by the fact that some riders were deliberately causing accidents or creating dangerous situations, a phenomenon, they said, specific to e-scooters.

The study, which analysed data from nearly 7,000 rides with rental scooters in Gothenburg, suggests that those who do not own the scooters themselves are likely less concerned about the consequences of accidents.

E-scooters for hire have become a common sight in many major cities in recent years, establishing themselves as an alternative mode of transport, particularly for short distances.

However, the initial boom was accompanied by significant criticism regarding safety and uncertainties about the rules governing where and how the electric scooters could be used.

"It is important to understand that e-scooters are not only used to meet mobility needs in cities but are also ridden simply for fun," explained Marco Dozza, one of the study's authors.

"Unfortunately, it is clear that leisure rides in some cases lead to dangerous behaviour that increases the risk of accidents."

E-scooter riders, he said, are significantly more likely to exhibit strange and dangerous riding behaviour compared to other road users.

The study also clarified that the vast majority of e-scooter riders do not engage in risky behaviour. The research was funded by the Swedish Transport Administration.

A 2020 study in the US warned of a "dramatic increase in injuries" during the initial boom of e-scooters after 2017.

In 2022, Berlin police reported that in the space of just one year, the number of accidents involving e-scooters had more than doubled.

A meta-study by Canada's public health authority in the state of Ontario previously painted a picture of the most common accident scenarios: Falls, loss of balance/control, collision with a vehicle, collision with an object (e.g. pole, gate), collision with pedestrians, excessive speed, road condition (e.g., uneven surface), scooter malfunction and dual riders.