Lee Hill
It seems like everyone nowadays loves electric scooters. They are easy to carry, foldable, and the most important thing is they are better for the environment than gas-powered vehicles. Many companies in the United States like Bird, Lime, and Spin have started electric scooter rental services in major cities, so more electric scooters are on the roads these days.
You might be interested in getting an electric scooter, but you have an important question: are electric scooters safe? A recent study regarding electric scooters has suggested that as the number of electric scooters on the road is rising, the accidents involving electric scooters are also increasing. Many people are neither obeying traffic rules nor wearing safety accessories while riding. This has led to severe injuries and even death.
Remember, electric scooters are safe if you obey all laws while riding and keep your electric scooter properly maintained. You also should not forget to wear safety accessories, like a helmet. You should not treat them as a toy or a joy ride. Instead, treat your electric scooter with the same respect and seriousness you would have while driving a car.
How Safe Are Electric Scooters?
The public health and transportation department in Austin raised questions regarding the safety of electric scooters. They have found that from 5th September to 30th November 2018, there were 936,110 electric scooter trips.
The department has identified that 271people were injured while riding electric scooters. Half of them had severe head injuries, which could have been prevented if the victims were wearing a helmet.
According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), there were approximately 86 million electric scooter trips in the United States in 2019. The study revealed that electric scooter riders who do not wear helmets often sustain severe head injuries. They have fractures in their skull or suffer a loss of consciousness.
These studies suggest that electric scooters are safe as long as you are taking the necessary precautions. But if you choose not to wear a helmet and other protective gear, you are more likely to get injured (and the injury is likely to be more severe) than riding a regular bicycle because you are moving faster.
Another issue is street legality. Many states did not allow electric scooters on the streets until recently, categorizing them as “children’s toys.” This was causing even more damage because pedestrians walking on sidewalks don’t expect vehicles whizzing by at 15 mph. Sidewalks also have many obstructions, including lamp posts.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has stated that the riders of electric scooters have twice as many injuries as bicyclists because of potholes, cracks on pavements, and lamp posts.
Thankfully, most states have now created clear rules regarding street legality, usage of helmets and headlights, and the requirement of a driving license.
Are Electric Scooters Streets Safe?
Compared to sidewalks, electric scooters on the roads are much safer. These vehicles are comparatively slow-moving to the rest of the traffic, and they have to follow the city’s traffic rules.
Electric scooters are safe, no doubt, but you need to wear a helmet to protect your head from unexpected injuries. Wearing a knee pad and elbow pad is another way to prevent cuts and bruises. You should also maintain your electric scooters from time to time, inspecting their brakes, gears, and other components.
You should also use good LED lights on your electric scooter to improve visibility during nighttime, which will prevent accidents.
The federal government has specified a maximum speed limit of 20 mph for electric scooters. Even though your city laws may allow you to ride faster, you should try to remain within the federal limits.
Avoid riding on sidewalks because that puts pedestrians in danger. Walkers never expect a speedy vehicle on the sidewalk. Your electric scooter may collide with a pedestrian, and that may result in severe injuries to both you and the person you collide with.
Are Electric Scooters Safe for Kids?
Kick scooters are best for the kids. But once they become masters of kick scooters, you can introduce them to electric scooters, as long as these have low speed limits and are easy to control.
In my opinion, giving electric scooters to kids is not a bad idea. Parents simply need to decide if their kid is mature enough for an electric scooter. There are many cute models for toddlers that can help them sink their teeth into electric scooters.
These electric scooters usually have multiple speed modes so that you can decide what level you want to start your child off at. They grow with the child since you can increase the handlebar height and speed level as they become taller and more confident.
There are many electric scooters available for older children. You can buy a solid model for your teenager, but you should only allow them to ride if they wear all the necessary safety accessories. Another important consideration is that your kid should be aware of and obey the laws of your locality while riding. In this way, your kids will be safe while riding an electric scooter.
Are Electric Scooters Safe in Rain?
Riding an electric scooter in the rain is safe, but you need to follow certain procedures like installing good LED lights on your electric scooter, which improves visibility in the rain. You should avoid riding on puddles and potholes when it has rained. There is a major chance that you may be thrown off the scooter if you hit a hidden pothole, and you may sustain severe injuries.
You need to check the Ingress Protection Rating (IP rating) before you purchase an electric scooter. The rating should be above 5 to classify as a water-resistant electric scooter. Luckily most modern electric scooters are water-resistant.
Another thing you should keep in mind is that your electric scooters are water resistant but not waterproof. So avoid riding in heavy rain, as it can cause permanent damage to your electric scooter.
The most important thing is that you should protect your electric scooter’s battery from the rain. If the battery gets exposed to rainwater, it will likely die on you. So make sure that you keep the battery protected at all times.
Are Electric Razor Scooters Safe For Nine-Year-Old?
The Razor electric scooters are available for children older than 8. When it comes to safety, you need to follow these specific tips:
- Parents should only give electric scooters to their kids if they are mature enough.
- Kids should wear a helmet and other protective accessories before riding.
- Kids should first practice riding the electric scooter in an empty parking lot. Once they master it, they can ride on the street.
- Your kids should obey the laws and regulations governing electric scooters in your locality.
- Kids should avoid riding on sidewalks.
How Safe Are Electric Scooters In Shanghai?
If you are riding an electric scooter on Shanghai’s streets, you must wear a helmet. This rule increases the safety of riders. This law is in effect from June 2020 and will surely decrease the number of accidents.
Conclusion
Electric scooters are safe. But you need to ride carefully and wear protective accessories while riding on the streets of your locality, or else you may sustain accidents and injuries.
Anyways please share your suggestions and comments for this article. I would love to read your suggestions.
