The number of people injured in e-scooter collisions has rocketed in Avon and Somerset. In 2020, just eight people were injured in collisions involving e-scooters. However, that rose to 96 last year.
It is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter on public roads, as well as on pavements or in cycle lanes. The only exception to this is using rental e-scooters as part of Government-run trials of e-scooters, which are currently taking place in around 30 areas.
E-scooters in these trials are limited to 15.5 miles per hour, though some may have restrictions limiting them further. Users must have a full or provisional licence, and it’s recommended they wear a cycle helmet.
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In Avon and Somerset, there are trials in Somerset West (Taunton and Minehead), South Somerset (Yeovil), and the West of England Combined Authority (Bristol and Bath). Currently information on how many collisions involve rental e-scooters or private scooters is inconsistent.
The information is usually recorded in a free text field on the accident report, and not all officers add the information. In Avon and Somerset, at least seven e-scooters involved in crashes were privately-owned, while six were known to be part of rental schemes. A further 73 had no information recorded.
Based on national figures, most of those injured are likely to have been the person using the e-scooter. Across Britain, there were 1,280 collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 460 in 2020.
Those collisions involved 1,359 casualties, compared to 484 in 2020. Last year, 309 collisions involved only one e-scooter, and no other vehicles, compared to 83 in 2020.
Of all casualties in collisions involving e-scooters, 1,034 were e-scooter users, compared to 384 in 2020. Among others injured were 223 pedestrians, 64 cyclists, 14 motorcyclists and 17 people in cars.
Across Britain, there were nine people killed in collisions involving e-scooters (all of whom were e-scooter riders) compared to one in 2020. The Department of Transport (DfT), which puts together the data, says its best estimate, after adjusting for changes in reporting by police, is that there were also 390 people seriously injured and 960 slightly injured in 2021, compared to 129 and 354 respectively in 2020.
Of those slightly injured in the collisions, common injuries include slight cuts, bruising, and sprains. More serious injuries include head injuries or broken arms and legs - three people sustained a broken neck or back and three people had internal injuries last year.
E-scooter users who were injured were much more likely to be men - around three-quarters of casualties, where gender was recorded. They were most likely to be aged between 10 and 19, followed by those aged 20 to 29.
Given the age profile of users involved in crashes, it may not be surprising that collisions peak around school run times, at 8am and 4pm. There’s an upward trend starting at 6am and ending at 4pm with a dip at 10am, followed by a downward trend from 4pm to 10pm.
The age range of people injured in collisions, other than e-scooter users themselves, was more broad, with similar numbers in each age band from zero to nine through to 70 plus. The data, from the DfT, is provisional, so may change as the police finish updating their figures.
However, even the updated figures are likely to be an underestimate of the number of collisions and injuries. “E-scooters” are not one of the designated vehicle types collected in a reportable accident, and as such they would be classed as “other vehicle” and can only be identified using a free text field.
Guidance to police encourages them to identify e-scooters as such, rather than recording more general descriptions like “scooter”. As well as this, the DfT said a considerable percentage of non-fatal casualties are not reported to the police.
Non-fatal casualties for e-scooter users are amongst the most likely to be underreported in road casualty data since they have no obligation to inform the police of collisions.
The trial in Bristol is being conducted by Voi and Matthew Pencharz, Voi’s Head of Public Policy for UK and Ireland, told Bristol Live: “When it comes to safety, shared e-scooter schemes are strictly regulated and riding a shared e-scooter is as safe as riding a bike. Voi’s top priority is the safety of its riders, other road users and pedestrians, particularly vulnerable ones.
"We continuously educate our riders to follow the rules of the road and ride safely. Voi, which is part of the highly-regulated government e-scooters trials, works closely with its city partners to ensure this sustainable mode of transport is introduced safely and responsibly.
"Nearly 4.8 million rides have been taken on Voi e-scooters in Bristol since the launch of the trials in 2020, and we have seen a 37% modal shift from cars to e-scooters, representing an estimated 1.8 million short car trips replaced. This shows that shared schemes are contributing to the decarbonisation of our cities and towns and that e-scooters can be safely integrated with other forms of public transport, bicycles and walking to give people carbon-free, safe, affordable and convenient transport options.
“Voi also welcomes the recently announced government plan to create a new independent vehicle category and legalise e-scooters in the UK. We believe that cooperation between cities, central government and operators, investment in the education of all road users, better parking and riding infrastructure, as well as the creation of a level playing field between private and shared e-scooters, will increase overall road safety.”
Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement: “E-scooters have become commonplace in towns and cities after the Government permitted the start of trials for rental schemes in 2020.
“However, we’re keen for riders to be aware that e-scooters are subject to the same road traffic legislation as cars or mopeds and are only legal for use as part of government-led trial schemes. Working closely with local authorities and rental providers, we are actively engaging with e-scooter users as part of our regular patrols, issuing advice where appropriate and taking enforcement action where necessary.
“For more information, visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/escooters."
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