E-scooters: improving mobility, but at what cost?

E-scooters are suddenly everywhere - and anything but harmless. At top speeds, scooter accidents can cause serious injury. European studies show that 95% of accidents stem from failure to obey the traffic laws or from an inability to properly accelerate, brake or change direction.

Some young riders have never driven a car so it’s their first experience on the road. Tourists and non-locals who use them may not be fully aware of local traffic rules - and too many drive e-scooters on the sidewalk. E-scooters can also cause property damage, such as an incident in Munich where the battery caught fire inside a house, causing damage in the six-digit range.