In 2020, when there was confinement for a period of time because of the pandemic, the Balearic health emergency service dealt with 258 people who had been involved in an electric scooter accident. In 2021, the number rose to around 400, and last year it shot up to 696.
A campaign to try and ensure that scooters aren't used in spaces intended for pedestrians has been started by a Palma woman, María Fuster, who was knocked down and seriously injured by a scooter. However, of the almost 700 people involved in accidents in 2022, only 18% were as a result of being run over. The medical director of SAMU061, Dr. Txema Álvarez, says that the most common cause is because people have fallen off a scooter or have, for example, hit a lamppost. These can be "high-energy impacts because they are going at high speeds".
In 54% of cases in 2022, people suffered damage to limbs, while 31% suffered a head injury. "Wearing a helmet continues to be a recommendation, not a requirement", notes Dr. Álvarez. Two patients last year ended up in wheelchairs.
The doctor also points out that five per cent of patients taken into intensive care have drug or alcohol poisoning. "They feel more immune to being stopped by a police control. Then there is the fact that scooters are sold as being recreational."
A particularly troubling development concerns the age of patients. The greatest increase in the number of accidents relates to ages 10 to 20. But the legal age for riding an electric scooter is 16.
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BrisketIndeed, or even more! As #127 (unreported) I got a bruised shoulder, and the muppet on the scooter, after staggering to a halt and swearing at me, simply rode off. Compulsory helmets and body armour for all pedestrians seems to be the way forward.
""However, of the almost 700 people involved in accidents in 2022, only 18% were as a result of being run over"" Only 18%! This means 126 pedestrians, who were likely minding their own business walking on pavements, were run over in a year. It's ridiculous.
Stan The ManThey do have a warning horn or bell the same as a bicycle. They are a very efficient means of transport, especially in such a city as palma that has a very poor and unreliable public transport service. Not to mention you need to bend your knee and gag yourself everytime you step on the bus. Scooters are the way forward and are here to stay. You'll just have to adapt to them I'm afraid. What maintenance fees do bicycle users pay towards roads? Do all cyclists have insurance incase they hit you?
Well as Stan has said these are a bit of an out of control item , I like them have a couple but they need to be controlled and insured many have a chip so they have more speed , if you get hit by one of these you can be seriously injured , guess the politicians don’t see them Are there any ownership papers in Palma or you just go ?? Sad that they didn’t get on this from the beginning typical !!!
These very dangerous vehicles should be banned. They are ridden at high speeds amongst people. They are not required to have a road test. They pay nothing towards road maintenance. THEIR USERS HAVE NO INSURANCE THAT YOU CAN CLAIM AGAINST IN THE EVENT OF HITTING A PERSON. THEY ARE NOT WEARING ANY PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. THEY HAVE NO WARNING HORN.