A new government report has revealed that the number of recorded casualties resulting from accidents involving e-scooters has increased by 40% nationwide. According to the latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), based on UK police reports, there were 1,349 crashes and 1,437 casualties involving e-scooters in the 12 months from June 2021-22, an increase from 978 collisions and 1,033 casualties recorded the year before.
During this period, 12 people were killed in collisions involving e-scooters, 11 of whom were e-scooter riders, compared to four in the year ending June 2021. London was the region with the most e-scooter crashes, with 463 recorded, followed by Nottinghamshire with 91 and Avon and Somerset with 87, while Durham and West Yorkshire had zero casualties
However, the report notes that for several police forces, 2022 figures are missing or incomplete, with Avon and Somerset having the most significant data void of six months, which according to the DfT, indicates that incident levels for the region are “therefore, likely to be underestimated” as the area had “relatively high numbers of e-scooter casualties during 2021”.
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In total, the DfT estimates that based on 2021 figures, missing data could amount to up to 100 casualties nationwide, not included in its stats. After adjusting for differences in reporting by police, the DfT estimates that 429 people were seriously injured and 996 were slightly injured casualties in collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 288 and 741, respectively, in the year ending June 2021.
According to the report, the three most common types of injuries sustained in collisions involving e-scooters are mild, including shallow cuts, bruising, sprains and strains. However, the fourth, fifth and sixth most common injuries are more serious, including fractures and head injuries.
Males aged 10-19 were the most frequently involved in crashes, with 276 casualties compared to 77 the year before. This was followed by men aged 20-29. Fifteen casualties were also recorded for boys aged under nine and four for men aged 70+. Unsurprisingly the peak times of day for collisions are around rush hour, occurring at 8am and 4pm.
Although the DfT admits that it is “difficult to draw any firm conclusions from the data reported at present” because figures for 2022 are affected by missing data for some police forces, this factor is considered unlikely to affect the broader overall trends shown but will instead have a more significant impact on figures for individual police force areas affected. Complete data for 2022 is scheduled for publication in September 2023.
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 is using rental e-scooters as part of Government-run trials of e-scooters, which are currently taking place in around 30 areas.
Unlike privately owned scooters, 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.
At present, information on how many collisions involve rental e-scooters or private scooters is inconsistent as 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, where the information was recorded, at least eight e-scooters involved in crashes were listed as privately-owned, while eight were known to be part of rental schemes. A further 63 were 'unknown'.
Voi has managed Bristol’s rental scheme since its launch two years ago, but it was recently announced that a new operator might take over the contract in the West of England. Bristol Live approached Voi to comment on the latest DfE figures, but a spokesperson only shared, "Even the DfT admits the data is poor, and no conclusions or judgments can be made.”
Voi has responded to safety concerns in the past. In a statement shared with Bristol Live in June, Matthew Pencharz, Voi’s Head of Public Policy for the UK and Ireland, said: “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.”
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