Electric scooters cause preventable accidents
Earth Day was Monday. It reminded us of our shared responsibility to protect our environment.
Electric scooterssymbol of green transport, have been perfectly integrated into our urban landscapes, offering an ecological alternative to traditional motor vehicles.
But as electric scooters rapidly become more popular, the number of injuries related to them has increased worryingly. Recent research from The American College of Surgeons shows that from 2016 to 2020, hospital visits due to scooter accidents have almost tripled. Many of these accidents were serious enough to require surgery.
Alarmingly, children ages 14 and younger account for 36 percent of these injuries, double their share in the U.S. population.
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Additionally, non-Hispanic Black consumers suffer disproportionately, accounting for 29% of injuries.
The data shows the urgent need for improved security measures and targeted interventions to protect vulnerable groups. Reduce the maximum speed by 15 mph to 10 mph could significantly reduce the risk of pedestrians suffering serious head injuries, and the use of helmets is also advocated for safe driving.
Danica Nelson, Blacklick
This article was originally published on The Columbus Dispatch: Electric scooters causing injuries. Ohio needs to lower the speed limit.
