The big picture: When we think of drunk driving incidents, we typically imagine alcohol-impaired drivers behind the wheels of cars or trucks. However, in recent years, a new safety concern has emerged on our streets: intoxicated riders of e-bikes and e-scooters. Fortunately, despite the surge in popularity of these lightweight electric vehicles, fatalities in this category remain comparatively rare.
Injuries involving e-scooters and e-bikes have tripled since 2019, according to a study published in the Injury Prevention Journal. Among over 4,000 emergency room visits analyzed, alcohol use was reported in 8.6 percent of e-scooter incidents and 2.5 percent of e-bike crashes.
Perhaps more surprising is the profile of the typical intoxicated e-rider: young, male, and prone to risky behavior. Men were found to have 2.6 times higher odds of alcohol involvement compared to women. Alarmingly, the study revealed that teens aged 10 – 17 were 7.5 times more likely than adults aged 18 – 39 to have alcohol or drugs contribute to an e-scooter or e-bike crash that landed them in the ER.
While the consequences of e-scooter and e-bike crashes have been relatively minor compared to car accidents, experts warn against complacency. Between 2019 and 2022, an estimated 279,990 emergency room visits in the US were attributed to e-scooter injuries, along with 16,600 for e-bike-related injuries. These numbers are expected to rise as electric mobility continues to surge in popularity.
A significant part of the issue lies in the inherent instability of e-scooters compared to bikes. Their upright stance makes them considerably harder to control, especially at higher speeds or on uneven terrain. Coupled with low rates of helmet usage, head injuries are among the most common outcomes when riders lose control and crash.
Akshaya Bhagavathula, an epidemiology professor and co-author of the study, explained to Scientific American that infrastructure, regulations, and public awareness around the risks of impaired riding lag far behind the rapid adoption of these devices.
Bhagavathula emphasized several straightforward ways to improve safety. Stricter public messaging and regulations to encourage helmet use are critical. Additionally, e-mobility companies could take a more active role in promoting protective measures, particularly helmet usage, to reduce the risk of serious injuries.
Drunk driving comes to e-bikes: Study shows 3x rise in ER visits due to accidents
