Attention All: The Rising Dangers of Drunk Riding on Electric Scooters and Bikes
While our minds often envision drunk driving incidents involving cars and trucks, a new safety concern has emerged on our streets: intoxicated riders on electric bikes (e-bikes) and scooters (e-scooters). Fortunately, fatalities from these incidents remain relatively rare, despite the growing popularity of these electric, lightweight vehicles.
However, a recent study published in Injury Prevention Journal reveals alarming trends. In just three years, injuries involving e-scooters and e-bikes have tripled. Alcohol played a significant role in these accidents, with 8.6% of e-scooter incidents and 2.5% of e-bike incidents reporting alcohol consumption.
The typical profile of an inebriated rider is also surprising: young, male, and prone to risky behavior. Men are 2.6 times more likely to be involved in alcohol-related incidents than women, and teens aged 10-17 have a staggering 7.5 times higher risk of contributing to an e-scooter or e-bike emergency room visit under the influence.
While the consequences of e-scooter and e-bike accidents are relatively minor compared to car crashes, experts caution against complacency. Between 2019 and 2022, about 279,990 U.S. emergency room visits were attributed to e-scooter injuries, with an additional 16,600 attributed to e-bikes. As electric mobility continues to gain popularity, these numbers are expected to rise.
One major factor contributing to this problem is the inherent instability of e-scooters compared to e-bikes. Their vertical position makes them harder to control, especially at higher speeds or on uneven terrains. Combined with low helmet usage rates, head injuries are common when riders lose control and fall.
Akshaya Bhagavathula, an epidemiology professor and co-author of the study, told Scientific American that infrastructure, regulations, and public awareness have not kept pace with the rapid adoption of these devices. Simple improvements like stricter public messages and regulations enforcing helmet use, along with more active promotion of safety measures by mobility companies, could significantly reduce severe injuries.
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