The risk of head injuries could be reduced if drivers used their arms to cushion blows to the head during an accident.
- In France, electric scooters must travel on a cycle path when it exists.
- The higher the speed of the electric scooter while riding, the higher the risk of brain damage.
“The number of accidents related to the use of electric scooters is increasing. Due to their special control method, mechanical structure and riding position, these scooters are prone to various single-vehicle accidents, such as collisions with fixed obstacles and falls due to mechanical failures”. This is what researchers from the Changsha University of Science and Technology (China) wrote in a study published in the journal Journal of The Royal Society Interface.
Scooter accidents: head injuries are the most common
As part of this work, scientists have reconstructed several accident scenarios involving electric scooters using calculation methods and videos published on the networks in order to learn more about the repercussions of the actions carried out before and during the incident. According to their analysis, the scooter is thrown to the ground during the accident, and in many cases the rider suffers head trauma and brain damage.
Cover your head with your arms during a scooter accident
The authors found that drivers often failed to protect themselves and took no steps to prevent injury at the time of the crash. They also noted that these lapses often resulted in more serious injuries. According to the team, simply using the arms to cover the head would protect the brain, especially if the driver is not wearing a helmet.
50% of scooter riders can suffer a skull fracture
According to the results, the use of an electric scooter did not make a big difference in the risk of head injuries. Motorcycles and scooters were equally dangerous. The researchers also revealed that about half of drivers who fall have a one in two chance of sustaining a skull fracture during an accident.
