Electric Scooters (e-scooters): Assessing the Threat to Public Health and Safety in Setting Policies: Assessing e-scooter policies

Authors

  • Amber Comer School of Health & Human Sciences, IUPUI
  • Nate Apathy Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, IUPUI
  • Carly Waite School of Health & Human Sciences, IUPUI
  • Zoe Bestmann JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Jacob Bradshaw JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Emily Burchfield JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Brittany Harmon JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Rebekah Legg JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Star Meyer JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Patrick O’Brien JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Micha Sabec JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Jami Sayeed JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Alexis Weaver JD Candidate, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  • Lynn D’Cruz School of Health and Human Sciences, IUPUI
  • Stephanie Bartlett School of Health and Human Sciences, IUPUI
  • McKenzi Marchand School of Health and Human Sciences, IUPUI
  • Isabel Zepeda School of Health and Human Sciences, IUPUI
  • Katelyn Endri School of Health and Human Sciences, IUPUI
  • John T. Finnell Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Shaun Grannis Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Ross D. Silverman Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, IUPUI
  • Peter J. Embi Indiana University School of Medicine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18060/24194

Abstract

Objective: To determine self-reported incidences of health and safety hazards among persons who ride rentable electric scooters (e-scooters), knowledge of e-scooter laws, and attitudes and perceptions of the health and safety of e-scooter usage.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of n= 561 e-scooter riders and non-riders was conducted during June of 2019.

Results: Almost half of respondents (44%) report that e-scooters pose a threat to the health and safety of riders. Riders and non-riders disagree regarding the hazards that e-scooters pose to pedestrians. Among riders, 15% report crashing or falling off an e-scooter. Only 2.5% of e-scooter riders self-report that they always wear a helmet while riding.

Conclusions: E-scooter riders report substantial rates of harmful behavior and injuries. Knowledge of e-scooter laws is limited, and e-scooters introduce threats to the health and safety of riders, pedestrians on sidewalks, and automobile drivers. Enhanced public health interventions are needed to educate about potential health risks and laws associated with e-scooter use and to ensure health in all policies. Additionally, greater consideration should be given to public health, safety, and injury prevention when passing relevant state and local e-scooter laws.

 

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Published

2020-11-17

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2020)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2020 Amber Comer, Nate Apathy, Carly Waite, Zoe Bestmann, Jacob Bradshaw, Emily Burchfield, Brittany Harmon, Rebekah Legg, Star Meyer, Patrick O’Brien, Micha Sabec, Jami Sayeed, Alexis Weaver, Lynn D’Cruz, Stephanie Bartlett, McKenzi Marchand, Isabel Zepeda, Katelyn Endri, John T. Finnell, Shaun Grannis, Ross D. Silverman, Peter J. Embi

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