A recent study by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has uncovered significant risk patterns associated with severe injuries from e-scooter use.
Data Reveal Alarming Trends in Weekend and Nighttime Accidents
The TUM research team analyzed 538 incidents involving severe injuries from e-scooter accidents in Germany between 2020 and 2023, including 26 fatalities. The study, based on the most comprehensive injury registry of its kind in the German-speaking world, found that half of these accidents occurred on weekends and 54% took place at night between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Strikingly, 78% of the seriously injured individuals were male, and in 62% of cases, alcohol consumption was confirmed. One-third of those under the influence had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit of 0.5‰, despite the same legal restrictions applying to e-scooter riders as to motorists.
Doctors Call for Public Awareness Campaigns and Helmet Mandates
Trauma surgeon Michael Zyskowski of TUM warns against the dangerous misconception that riding an e-scooter while intoxicated is safer than driving. “Many leave their car behind but jump on an e-scooter without thinking,” he told Bayerischer Rundfunk. He is calling for impactful public awareness campaigns, ideally using shock advertising, to confront this false sense of safety and emphasize the real risks.
The study found that over 80% of those with serious injuries required intensive care. Head and facial trauma were particularly common, affecting 83% of cases. Patients spent an average of two days in intensive care and about seven days in hospital overall.
Given these findings, Zyskowski advocates for a legal helmet requirement for e-scooter riders, a rule already implemented in countries like Italy and Australia. In Germany, helmet use remains optional. TUM researchers also propose that rental companies be required to provide helmets to users.
International Cities Already Taking Action
Some cities have begun introducing measures to combat the high rate of nighttime and alcohol-related accidents. Oslo, for example, prohibits rental scooter use between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., while Helsinki has reduced weekend speed limits from 25 km/h to 15 km/h. The TUM team notes that while these measures are promising, their long-term effectiveness is still unclear.
To address alcohol-related risks, some scooter rental apps have introduced reflex-based tests to assess rider sobriety before rentals during evening hours. Zyskowski believes these features could be enhanced and expanded to further deter intoxicated riding.
As cities seek to adapt to the challenges of new mobility options, the TUM study underscores the urgent need for targeted safety regulations and public education to reduce preventable injuries and fatalities.
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