Source: European Transport Safety Council

The increasing popularity of e-scooters underpins a need for safety measures across Europe

E-scooters have rapidly emerged as a popular mode of transport since their arrival in Europe. Legalisation for their use followed shortly after, with countries like Belgium, France, and Germany permitting the use of e-scooters in 2019. Today, privately owned e-scooters are allowed in most European countries, with the UK and the Netherlands standing out as notable exceptions.

However, the surge in e-scooter usage has coincided with an increase in road collisions involving these vehicles. This has raised concerns about potential risks to both riders and other vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians.

A report published by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), Improving the Road Safety of E-scooters, examines the safety implications of this trend in three key parts. The first two sections focus on crash data related to deaths and serious injuries involving motorised micro-mobility devices, a category that includes e-scooters as well as less common vehicles like self-balancing unicycles and Segways.

The third section delves into measures to mitigate these risks. It explores technical standards for vehicles, road rules, infrastructure, and urban speed limits. The report highlights best practices from across Europe, offering evidence-based recommendations for national governments to improve e-scooter safety.

The report also calls for urgent action from the European Union to establish unified technical standards for e-scooters. Suggested areas of focus include minimum age requirements, helmet use, regulations on drink-driving, carrying passengers, and riding on pavements. By promoting consistent safety measures, the EU could play a pivotal role in ensuring safer integration of e-scooters into urban transport systems across Europe.

As e-scooters become an increasingly significant part of urban mobility, such coordinated efforts are essential to protect all road users.

Download the full report here.