Latest stats show surge in e-scooter accidents
Canterbury in Kent has banned the use of e-scooters on its roads. It is one of the cities which has been running an e-scooter trial on public roads.
It will not continue with the trial and will ban electric scooters in the city.
Like most cities, it has seen casualties because of the scooters. An 80-year-old woman suffered a cracked jaw after a scooter rider knocked her to the ground. Prompting a review of the scheme.
Several other cities including Manchester and Derby have been running trials over the past two years.
Some cities such as Birmingham have said they will extend the trial. Bournemouth and Poole has announced that it will extend its trial until May 2024.
Will E-SCOOTERS BE LEGALISED?
The former government set out e-scooter plans in the last Queen’s Speech.
These could see electric scooters legalised on UK roads. However, the new Conservative government is yet to announce its plans for e-scooters.
Pro-scooter enthusiasts believe the environmental benefits help reduce CO2 emissions and curb climate change.
They are an inexpensive way to move around cities and could also help reduce congestion on the roads.
E-SCOOTER SAFETY CONCERNS
However, there have been several serious accidents involving riders and pedestrians since the schemes began. Road safety bodies and legal professionals have been calling for a ban.
The latest UK road casualty report released this week, revealed the number of crashes involving electric scooters skyrocketed by 193% last year.
With 1,352 collisions and 1,434 casualties in 2021, up from 460 and 484 in the previous year.
A total of 10 e-scooter riders were killed in collisions in 2021, with a further 331 being seriously injured.
Crashes involving e-scooters also saw 67 pedestrians and 20 cyclists sustain serious injuries.
ROAD CASUALTY REPORT – E-SCOOTERS
E-scooter facts for 2021 (source: Department for Transport)
- There were 1,352 collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 460 in 2020
- Of all collisions involving e-scooters, 324 included only one e-scooter with no other vehicles involved in the collision (single vehicle collision), compared to 83 in 2020
- There were 1,434 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 484 in 2020
- Of all casualties in collisions involving e-scooters, 1,102 were e-scooter users, compared to 384 in 2020
- There were 10 killed in collisions involving e-scooters (all of whom were e-scooter riders) compared to 1 in 2020
- There were an estimated 421 seriously injured and 1,003 slightly injured in 2021, this compares to 129 and 354 respectively in 2020
We can expect to hear an announcement from the government before the end of the year.
For more information on electric scooters read the following blogs:
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