Introduction
Electric scooters provide a viable mode of micromobility for fun and functional purposes. Scooter-related safety has become a hot topic after several incidents involving scooters, but with the proper precautions, including equipment, skills, and protective gear, riding an electric scooter can be safe and convenient. To ensure your safety, read on tips on avoiding injury, what to wear, and how to behave.
Are electric scooters safe? Once and for all:
YES!
Electric scooters are a great idea, and they’re becoming increasingly popular. However, many people don’t know how to operate an electric scooter safely. The following are the top safety tips for safe electric scooter driving:
Electric scooter safety tips:
HELMET – Don’t swear it. Wear it
Reportedly, a mere 4% of e-scooter riders wear helmets. Although, serious injuries are on the rise. Electric scooter-related head and neck injuries make up 28% of e-scooter accidents, but there’s a simple fix—wear a helmet.
Try it out first, somewhere safe
Learning to ride an electric scooter is more straightforward than riding a bicycle. However, one-third of electric scooter riders get injured on their first ride. As a result, it’s good to practice somewhere safe before you hit the public roads. An empty parking lot or quiet neighborhood will do.
Don’t be a road bandit
While riding an electric scooter may require little knowledge about the laws of the road, it’s always necessary to read up on them when necessary. Please consider that some places have unique regulations regarding e-scooters and conventional automobiles. So, brush up on your local rules and restrictions before venturing onto busy streets.
Slow down
While many high-power electric scooters allow for impressive speeds, don’t let your thrill-seeking side overpower your commitment to safety. It appears that e-scooter injuries are linked with riding speeds, so slowing down is a valid precautionary measure. Stay mindful of your legal responsibility as an e-scooter rider by not going over the speed limit in whichever city you’re traveling.
No phones allowed!
Riding a scooter is not the time for taking selfies or texting people back. You can crash, but it could be even more dangerous than driving and texting, as you have less protection in a collision.
It’s not a tandem
Electric scooters are strictly one-person vehicles. Riding a tandem will be more complex and significantly increases the chances of a mishap. The increased weight load can damage your electric scooter and increase your chances of injury should you have an accident; it is not fun for you should you fall, so don’t do it.
Shine like a diamond
Lights and reflectors are necessary if you ride your electric scooter at night. Riding in the dark is inherently more dangerous, since it’s harder for other motorists to see your slim vehicle on the road. Let other people know where you’re going and what you’re doing with these:
- Front and rear lights
- Luminescent clothing
No drunk-driving! The same rules apply
Remember never to drink and ride. Alcohol impairs your judgment, making it harder to keep yourself safe when riding a scooter. In addition to that, alcohol also slows down your reaction times, making it surprisingly easy to have an accident where there otherwise wouldn’t be one with your bike. Not only, riding under the influence is dangerous, but also illegal. It should go without saying. Just don’t do it.
Choose quality over price
Lastly, you can enhance your safety by selecting a high-quality electric scooter that’s undergone adequate safety testing. Apollo recommends looking for the popular UL2272 certification – these certifications are given to electric mobility devices that have met stringent safety standards. Most importantly, find an electric scooter store that is tried and trusted.
