Wednesday 25 May 2022 06:52 PM Number of pedestrians hit and injured by e-scooters in UK was FOUR times higher ... trends now
The number of pedestrians injured after being hit by e-scooters was nearly four times higher in 2021 than the previous year, new figures show.
Department for Transport statistics revealed that 223 people travelling on foot were wounded by the contraptions in Britain last year, including 63 who were seriously hurt.
The average age group of an e-scooter rider involved in a collision was 10 to 19, while the most common age group of e-scooter crash victim was 50 to 59.
In 2020 there were just 57 pedestrian casualties including only 13 serious injuries.
Hundreds of pedestrians were injured by e-scooter riders last year, in total four times more were hurt than the year before
The reported number of casualties in collisions involving e-scooters skyrocketed in the UK in 2021
The most common age of person involved in a collision with an e-scooter, not including the rider, was aged between 50 and 59
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps made his intentions to introduce new legislation concerning e-scooters in the Transport Bill clear, though the specifics are unknown
Currently there is no specific legislation for e-scooters and, while it is legal to buy and sell e-scooters in the UK, there are limitations on where they can be used
The figures have been released just weeks after the Government announced it plans to introduce new legislation to govern the use of e-scooters.
Private e-scooters are often used on public roads and pavements despite being banned.
Legalised trials of rental e-scooters have been set up in dozens of towns and cities across England to see if they can be used safely.
Trial areas like Merseyside and Nottinghamshire showed a similar amount of collisions from rental scooters as there were for privately owned ones, while Northamptonshire only recorded collisions from rental e-scooters.
The casualty statistics also show that 64 cyclists were injured in e-scooter crashes in 2021, up from 21 during the previous 12 months.
Some 1,034 e-scooter riders or passengers were injured in 2021, accounting for 76% of all casualties in crashes involving the devices.
Last year nine people were killed in e-scooter collisions, all of whom were riders, and 305 riders were seriously injured.
A breakdown of the types of injuries resulting from e-scooter crashes shows 28 people suffered a serious head injury, 32 sustained a fractured lower leg, ankle or foot, and three endured a broken neck or back.
