Stay Curious

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND UNLOCK ONE MORE ARTICLE FOR FREE.

Sign Up

VIEW OUR Privacy Policy


Discover Magazine Logo

WANT MORE? KEEP READING FOR AS LOW AS $1.99!

Subscribe

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

FIND MY SUBSCRIPTION
Advertisement

Are the Kids Alright? Young People are Getting Seriously Injured on E-Scooters

CT scans and X-ray data show surprising numbers of injuries among riders ages 18 to 30.

Credit: Ivan Marc/Shutterstock

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news

Sign Up

As popular as they are, electric scooters aren’t the safest mode of transportation. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 20 injuries happen per 100,000 e-scooter rides. That may not seem like a lot, but half of those instances resulted in impacts to the head, and some 15 percent ended in traumatic brain injuries.

The CDC report analyzed data from riders in Austin, Texas. However, other cities with these trendy two-wheelers are seeing a spike in injuries as well. After brands like Bird and Lime were legalized in Indianapolis in September 2018, first-response teams saw between two and 24 scooter-related injuries per month.

Not surprisingly, radiologists from the Indiana University Health system also saw an increase in CT scans and X-rays used to diagnose scooter mishaps. A new study presented at the annual Radiological Society of North America conference Tuesday sifts through data from ...

Stay Curious

JoinOur List

Sign up for our weekly science updates

View our Privacy Policy

SubscribeTo The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Subscribe
Advertisement

0 Free Articles