Electric scooters are more dangerous than motorcycles and bicycles.

Electric scooters pose a greater risk than motorcycles and bicycles.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Podrobno.uz News Agency.

Riding electric scooters can lead to more serious injuries than riding motorcycles and bicycles. Adults using electric scooters suffered significantly more head injuries and vascular injuries than motorcyclists and cyclists.

Researchers from Nature analyzed data from the UK National Serious Injury Registry for the period 2020 to 2022. The sample included over 15,000 cases involving electric scooters, motorcycles, and bicycles. The scientists also examined data from electric scooter-sharing operators for 2020–2024.

It was found that adult electric scooter users suffered internal organ injuries approximately one and a half times more often than motorcyclists. The risk of blood vessel damage was more than three times higher than for motorcyclists and approximately one and a half times higher than for cyclists. Moreover, fractures were less common among electric scooter users than among the other two groups.

The researchers cite the design features of electric scooters as one of the reasons. Small wheels can stop abruptly when hitting a pothole, curb, or other object, easily causing a person to lose balance and fall forward. Meanwhile, a standing body position makes steering more sensitive and increases vulnerability to sudden stops.

The authors also note that the available data is insufficient to fully compare the safety of all electric scooters. Specifically, some incident reports were collected only from users of shared scooters, so the results do not necessarily reflect the situation with private vehicles.

The researchers believe that safer scooter design, user training, and clear operating instructions are necessary to reduce the incidence of serious injuries. They believe the findings can be used to develop regulatory measures and safety programs.

It was previously reported that the Tashkent Botanical Garden banned the use of bicycles and scooters on its grounds. The decision was made following an increase in the number of falls and injuries, as well as requests from visitors calling for a calmer and safer atmosphere.