Insurance companies have observed a higher accident risk associated with rental scooters compared to privately owned e-scooters, further complicating the safety landscape.

Marco Dozza, one of the study's authors, noted that e-scooters are sometimes used purely for enjoyment, which can lead to dangerous behaviors and increased accident risks.

E-scooters have surged in popularity as a convenient mode of transport in major European cities, particularly for short distances, despite ongoing safety concerns and regulatory ambiguities.

In Germany alone, the number of registered e-scooters has skyrocketed to approximately 780,000 in 2023, marking a 37% increase from the previous year, alongside a 9% rise in rental scooters to 210,000.

Funded by the Swedish Transport Administration, the study analyzed nearly 7,000 trips and identified 61 safety-critical events, including 19 crashes and 42 near-crashes, highlighting significant concerns for rider safety.

Interestingly, riders who have taken fewer than five trips are more than twice as likely to be involved in a crash, underscoring the importance of experience.

The study revealed that 30% of critical events involved cars, indicating that many crashes occur outside designated bike lanes, particularly at intersections where visibility may be limited.

However, this increase in e-scooter usage has been accompanied by a rise in reported accidents, with injuries from e-scooter incidents climbing from 8,443 in 2022 to 9,439 in 2023, although these still represent a minor portion of overall traffic incidents.

A recent study from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg highlights that most accidents involving e-scooters stem from reckless rider behavior, although the majority of riders do not engage in such risky actions.

Key risky behaviors identified include riding with one hand on the handlebars, riding in groups, and using smartphones while riding, with the former increasing crash risk by six times.

To address these safety concerns, researchers propose technical solutions such as warnings and geofencing, but emphasize that behavioral changes through education and training are crucial for immediate impact on road safety.