Electric scooters have become a popular mode of transportation, but it turns out a lot of riders are landing themselves in the hospital.
A recent UCLA study found 249 total scooter-related emergency room visits at the university’s two hospitals in a one year period. 40 percent of the cases were head injuries, and only four percent of riders were wearing helmets. However, in California, only minors are required to wear helmets on these scooters.
The study also shows that while riders are already at risk of injuries just by riding these scooters, they increase their risk by violating the law and speeding through intersections.
While this research shows some of the risks of riding an electric scooter, researchers believe it highly underestimates the actual number of injuries.
The study was conducted using data from only the university hospitals, so information from primary care doctors and urgent care facilities was not included in the final report.
Electric scooters are banned in several communities on the Central Coast, including San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.
