Atlanta beware: Scooters may land you in the ER
By Julie Jordan
Published October 24, 2018
In May, electric scooters powered by smart phones arrived in Atlanta and many other U.S. metro areas as part of the latest urban commuter trend. The purpose of these scooters, as stated by their companies, is to help commuters solve the problem of the “last mile,” or the final leg of a journey that is too far to walk and too short to drive.
Though scooters appear to be a fun, quick and easy way to get around in the city, questions about their safety are popping up just as quickly as they are.
"There were about 8,500 injuries from scooters treated in emergency departments in the U.S. in 2017, according to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance Survey," said Jonathan D. Rupp, Ph.D., Director for Research at the Emory University Department of Emergency Medicine.
And this was before powered scooters became much more widespread this year after their rollout in major cities.
“The head is the most commonly injured body region,” said Rupp. “About 25 percent of patients injured in scooter crashes have head injuries.”
Physicians are concerned.
“We have seen a large increase in scooter-related injuries as they have become more popular,” said Hany Atallah, M.D., Chief of Emergency Medicine at Grady Health System in Atlanta. “These injuries range from minor scrapes and cuts, to broken bones, to life-threatening head injuries. Unfortunately, there are not currently any safety requirements or rules for where these scooters can go and what is required in terms of safety equipment. I would encourage all scooter users to exercise common sense safety precautions to prevent serious injury.”
Atallah advises scooter users to:
- Ride where it’s safe. Riding in the roadway on busy roads or highways puts you at risk for being hit by a vehicle.
- Obey pedestrian and bicyclist safety rules and laws.
- Wear safety gear. A helmet is necessary at a minimum, and knee and elbow guards are encouraged.
- Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Large bumps in the roadway could cause you to fall.
- Remember the learning curve. Motorists and pedestrians are not accustomed to watching out for scooter riders; be vigilant about your safety and the safety of others.
Also be aware of the challenges scooters present that may affect your saftey like:
- Mechanical failure
- Alcohol consumption before operation
- Vandalism
- Misunderstanding depth perception and speed
- Blowing through stop signs
- Hitting cars
- Heavy use