“Micro mobility” products, such as e-scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards, have been getting more popular since 2017. However, this has resulted in an increasing number of injuries.
According to The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an upcoming report into the safety of hoverboards and e-scooters shows that injuries have risen by 70% in four years.
In the preview of the report – the full version of which is due to be released shortly – the CPSC has warned consumers using these popular products that there could be safety risks.
The preview shows that injuries and deaths related to micro-mobility products have continued to rise, although the numbers did level off in 2020 with people spending more time at home.
Even with this, though, the CSPC researchers say that over 190,000 people were treated in emergency rooms between 2017 and 2020 for accidents or injuries from micro-mobility products.
What’s causing the accidents?
The number of accidents has been steadily rising. But what’s causing them? The researchers blame a number of factors, including mechanical or electrical faults and human error.
E-scooters, for example, are the cause of a large proportion of the injuries. They are widely used in urban areas, and the number of accidents rose from 7,700 in 2017 to 25,400 in 2020.
Many of the injuries were to the arms and legs, with some affecting the head or neck. There were 71 fatalities reported between 2017 and 2020, although the reporting isn’t complete.
The CPSC noted that mechanical, electrical, and human factors all affected safety, and the agency says it is working with the industry to make improvements to the safety standards.
It also suggests that consumers should be made aware of the risks and safety procedures to reduce the risks of getting injured. Wearing a helmet and checking e-scooters for damage to the brakes, bell, cables, lights, or tires could help avoid crashes and serious injuries.
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