Micromobility Dangers
We’re seeing more and more of them on Philadelphia’s streets and sidewalks. E-scooters, hoverboards and e-bikes are fast way to get to school and they’re fun. But The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says the number of injuries and deaths linked to these micromobility products is rising. According to advance data from a soon-to-be released CPCS report:
- There were more than 190,000 emergency room visits due to all micromobility products from 2017 through 2020. That’s a 70% increase.
- Much of the increase between 2017 and later years was attributable to ED visits involving e-scooters, which rose three times as much.
- Injuries happened most frequently to upper and lower limbs, as well as the head and the neck.
- CPSC is aware of 71 fatalities associated with micromobility products from 2017 through 2020, although reporting is incomplete.
Researchers say the data are certainly consistent with the notion that a lot of people staying home in 2020, led to a leveling off or slight reduction in scooter use.
The hazards associated with micromobility products primarily fall into three broad areas: mechanical, electrical, and human factors. To address these hazards, CPSC staff continues to work with ASTM International and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to develop and make improvements to, voluntary standards. In support of these and other efforts, CPSC has done analyses of incident data and has done testing for the various hazards. CPSC also collaborates with federal partners and industry stakeholders to promote micromobility safety.
The best way to avoid injuries when using micromobility products:
- Always make sure to wear a helmet.
- Before riding an e-scooter, make sure to check it for any damage, which includes examining the handlebars, brakes, throttle, bell, lights, tires, cables and frame. Damage to the e-scooter can cause loss of control and lead to a crash.
More life-saving tips can be found in CPSC’s e-scooter safety alert and safety PSA.
