Accidents and conflicts with electric speedsters are on the rise – in 2021 2800 drivers across Austria ended up in hospital. Do we need stricter laws here?
Whether pedestrians, cyclists or motorists: in the meantime, almost every road user with an e-scooter has been in a potentially dangerous situation. The electrically operated scooters in various forms have conquered the streets in recent years and have become a regular part of traffic.
The trend divides opinion: on the one hand it represents a new form of pollution-free “micromobility” and can replace car journeys, on the other hand the carelessness of many drivers causes problems for other road users – and significantly more accidents. Most recently, the tragic death of a 13-year-old e-scooter driver in Bad Waltersdorf (we reported) has rekindled the debate about e-racers.
Accidents double in one year
According to the Austrian Road Safety Council, 2,800 people in Austria will be hospitalized after scooter accidents by 2021 – more than twice as many as in the previous year! “One of the main causes is excessive speed, especially at intersections. Many underestimate the braking distance,” says Klaus Robatsch, Head of Research at the Dutch Road Safety Board.
The Styrian police also confirmed an increase in such accidents. The most common causes, besides speeding: carelessness, ignoring prohibitions and alcohol. The latter in particular is often underestimated: “E-scooters are a new form of mobility, but for many drivers the fun factor comes first,” says Robatsch.
“Nobody knows”
The call for stricter rules for e-scooters and the like is repeated. “In principle, the same rules of conduct apply as for cyclists. The legal situation in itself would be sufficient. The problem is that almost no one knows or deals with it,” says ÖAMTC chief attorney Martin Hoffer.
Traffic expert Robatsch would also be happy with the demand for helmets from many quarters. Also: “The law needs to be tightened so that e-scooters must have two brakes. The braking systems are usually not sufficient at the moment.” He also sees catching up in the infrastructure: “Sufficiently wide cycle paths are the order of the day here!”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
