Calls for immediate action on e-scooters as casualty figures revealed

Charity slams delay in reviewing UK trials of electric scooters as data reveals deaths and serious injuries among users.
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Immediate action on e-scooters is needed to address the number of people injured and killed while riding the devices, according to a leading road safety charity.

IAM Roadsmart has called on the Government to “make up its mind” on the safety of electric scooters after the Department for Transport (DfT) for the first time released data on e-scooter related accidents alongside its annual road casualty report.

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According to the DfT figures covering January to December 2020, one person was killed and 128 were seriously injured in crashes involving e-scooters on public roads.

A total of 484 casualties were recorded and while the majority were riders themselves, 100 other road users were also hurt. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists were among others who suffered serious injuries in collisions with e-scooter riders.

E-scooters are an increasingly common  sight despite restrictions on their use E-scooters are an increasingly common  sight despite restrictions on their use
E-scooters are an increasingly common sight despite restrictions on their use

E-scooter safety issues

E-scooters are illegal on public roads unless they are part of a government-sanctioned trial scheme examining their safety and suitability for public use.

However, reports suggest there is a growing problem with privately-owned scooters being used in public spaces.

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The DfT data states there were no casualties involving e-scooters reported by Merseyside Police in 2020.

E-scooter injury research in Liverpool

However, LiverpoolWorld reported in August that research from David Bodansky, an orthopaedic surgeon at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, showed that e-scooters were associated with a ‘marked increase in musculoskeletal trauma’ in the city.

Mr Bodansky revealed his team’s research, which has been submitted for publication, showed that 51 patients between October 2020 to May 2021 had musculoskeletal injuries involving e-scooters.

Out of the 51 patients, 39 disclosed the type of scooter they were riding, the team discovered 26 injuries were from patients who were on Voi scooters and 13 were privately owned.

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In the seven-month period before the Voi e-scooter trial started, there were just six e-scooter injuries compared with 51 during the seven months the surgical research team were monitoring the situation.

Mr Bodansky also revealed that the patients they reviewed were not in crashes with other vehicles, but had lost control of their scooters.

DfT data

The DfT warned that the data should be treated with caution as it could not be assessed for ‘consistency of recording practice’ across different police areas.

The government department also noted that there might be a ‘considerable percentage’ of non-fatal casualties that are not reported to the police.

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The report said: “Non-fatal casualties for e-scooter users are amongst the most likely to be under-reported in road casualty data since they have no obligation to inform the police of collisions. This should be borne in mind when analysing and interpreting the data.”

Charity investgates e-scooter misuse

The National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK) has called for an immediate suspension of all e-scooter trials across the UK.

The charity submitted a petition letter and photographic evidence to Downing Street showing worn and cracked back tyres of rented scooters in Liverpool, Birmingham, Northampton and Nottingham.

The Liverpool evidence, collated from August 25, has also been given to Merseyside’s Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy requesting her to take action and look at the safety of the scooters.

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Sarah Gayton, NFBUK Street Access Campaigns Coordinator, said: “These DfT figures are likely to be a huge underestimate. We already know about casualties in the Merseyside region because of research. 

“The sad thing about all these casualties is that they occurred at a time when hospitals were full to capacity with COVID-19 patients.”

IAM Roadsmart reaction

IAM Roadsmart has accused the Government of repeatedly delaying results from its pilot schemes and warned that without them a full review of their safety and any necessary legislation cannot be carried out.

Its director of policy and research, Neil Greig, said that analysis of trial data and a decision on legislation had taken far too long.

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He commented: “By delaying yet again the results of the pilot schemes we have another Christmas looming where people will be buying and using a totally unregulated form of transport in the UK.

“The pilots were launched in July 2020 and are now not due to finish until March 2022, plus the time required after that for analysis and legislation – this has taken far too long in our opinion. In the meantime, the police should make it absolutely clear that anyone caught riding an e-scooter outside private land or a trial area will have their vehicle seized immediately.

“E-scooters may have a role to play in the future transport mix, but this can only happen once their legal status has been made completely clear and that cannot happen soon enough.”

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