A cohort study from Helsinki, Finland reveals a significant decrease in e-scooter injuries with restrictions on top speed and nighttime usage.
A recent cohort study conducted in Helsinki, Finland, has shed light on the effectiveness of implementing restrictions on electric scooters (e-scooters) to reduce the incidence of e-scooter-related injuries. The study, which compared injury data from two different periods – one with no restrictions and another with top speed and nighttime usage limitations – found compelling evidence that such restrictions can play a crucial role in improving e-scooter safety.
Electric scooters have become a popular mode of urban transportation worldwide, with shared e-scooter services contributing significantly to their widespread use. However, this increased usage has also led to a surge in e-scooter-related injuries, prompting calls for more effective regulations. The study focused on investigating the impact of restrictions on top speed and nighttime e-scooter usage on the incidence of e-scooter injuries.
The study, conducted in Helsinki, Finland, included 846 injuries resulting from shared e-scooter riding. The injuries were divided into two periods for comparison: an unrestricted period (January 1 to August 31, 2021) and a restricted period (January 1 to August 31, 2022). During the restricted period, shared e-scooters had limitations placed on their daytime top speed (20 km/h), as opposed to the previous 25 km/h limit. Additionally, shared e-scooters were prohibited from being used on Friday and Saturday nights between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. During Sunday to Thursday nights in the same time frame, the nighttime top speed was decreased to 15 km/h, in contrast to the previous 25 km/h limit.
The key findings of the study are as follows:
- During the unrestricted period, the incidence of e-scooter injuries was 19 for every 100,000 rides.
- During the restricted period with top speed and nighttime usage restrictions, the incidence decreased to 9 per 100,000 rides.
- The odds ratio for e-scooter injuries during the restricted period was 0.5, adjusted for variables like temperature, rain, wind speed, and visibility.
The study also revealed that injuries during late hours (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) significantly decreased after the restrictions were implemented, emphasizing the role of nighttime usage limitations in reducing injury rates. Moreover, the proportion of intoxicated drivers involved in e-scooter crashes dropped from 38% to 31% after introducing the restrictions.
Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that restrictions on top speed and nighttime usage of e-scooters can be effective public interventions to decrease the number of e-scooter injuries. As e-scooters continue to gain popularity as a means of urban transport in various cities, similar restrictions in regions with shared e-scooter services may be worth considering to enhance safety and minimize injury risks.