E-Scooter, E-Bike And Hoverboard Injuries Jumped To 70% In Past Four Years

As consumers step up their use of e-scooters, hoverboards, and e-bikes to return to work, school, and other activities, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds everyone to keep safety a priority.

Photo Insert: A man on an e-scooter not wearing a helmet

According to advance data from a soon-to-be-released CPSC report on hazard patterns associated with micromobility products, injuries and deaths continue to rise, but 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.

Here's what the latest data show:

• There were more than 190,000 emergency room (ED) visits due to all micromobility products from 2017 through 2020. ED visits had a steady 70% increase from 34,000 (2017), 44,000 (2018), 54,800 (2019) to 57,800 (2020).

• Much of the increase between 2017 and later years was attributable to ED visits involving e-scooters, which rose three times as much, from 7,700 (2017), to 14,500 (2018), to 27,700 (2019) and 25,400 (2020).

• 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.

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.

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