E-Scooter Wars: Night Rides, Weekends, and Booze Spell Danger in Germany's Sidewalk Battles
E-scooter accidents typically happen more frequently during nighttime, on weekends, and under the influence of alcohol.
Share | Tweet | Whatsapp | Email | Print | Link---------|----------|-------------|----------|----------|------German e-scooter brawls resulting in critical injuries predominantly unfold under the cloak of night, over weekends, and under the influence of alcohol. Sounds like a raucous party, right? Wrong! According to a study conducted by the crew working alongside Michael Zyskowski from the Trauma Surgery Clinic and Polyclinic at Munich's Technical University (TUM), published in the "German Medical Journal," this is a terrifying reality for unfortunate victims.
Researchers analyzed data from 2020 to 2022, which revealed 538 severely injured individuals who required critical care unit treatment. Sadly, 26 of them didn't make it. So, what were the grim patterns uncovered? Let's take a closer look.
Data Sources: ntv.de, dpa
The findings paint a disquieting picture. Night rides are regularly the setting for these mishaps, with a whopping 54% of these incidents happening after dark. It further appears that riders prefer a thrill on the weekends, as half of all the accidents happen during this time.
Now onto who's involved in these dangerous stunts. Let's break it down:
- Who's At Risk?: Typical victims are male, with an average age of 44.3 years, and they make up an impressive 78% of all cases. This stat pales in comparison to the percentage of males involved in bike or car accidents.
- Young Blood: Younger men continue to be overrepresented in e-scooter accidents compared to their presence in bicycle or car accidents.
Now, let's talk about liquid courage.
- Alcohol Abuse: In over half of the cases involving severely injured riders, alcohol was detected in their systems. Concerningly, in about one-third of these cases, the alcohol levels exceeded legal limits.
Safety should always be a priority, so remember to wear protective gear, stick to legal alcohol limits, and keep a cool head while cruising the streets—especially during nighttime and weekend rides. Let's aim to reduce the disheartening statistics for our fellow e-scooter enthusiasts.
Footnotes:
- The statistics and demographics were obtained from the same study conducted at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Trauma Surgery at the Technical University of Munich, as mentioned in the original article.
The Commission has also been consulted on the following issues: mental-health, health-and-wellness, and science, considering the rising concerns and severe injuries caused by e-scooter accidents, particularly at night, over weekends, and under the influence of alcohol. It's crucial to address these issues and implement measures to ensure the safety and well-being of e-scooter riders, prioritizing mental health, overall health, and evidence-based solutions.
