Some hospitals in the country have reported a rise in the number of injuries caused by e-scooter accidents. Doctors have urged riders to wear helmets, elbow pads and follow traffic rules.
“Electric scooters are a novel, innovative, and rapidly expanding form of transportation. However, we are seeing several new cases of injuries because of e-scooter accidents. Riders should be mindful of several factors before they take scooters to the streets. According to published studies, 80 per cent of injuries occur when the riders fall off the scooter after hitting a bump or ricocheting off the sidewalk, and not from colliding with a vehicle or object,” said Dr Shibu Varghese, orthopaedic sports surgeon at Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi.
Dr Varghese noted that riding e-scooters require a good level of coordination and skill that is often found lacking resulting in accidents on the road.
“Some riders don’t have the core strength or balance to stay upright on e-scooters. They should train themselves well before hitting the streets. Also, these scooters are harder to control at faster speeds. And some have smaller wheels making them less stable on the road.”
Some of the safety measures to follow:
- Wear a helmet, knee, and elbow pads.
- Wear apt clothing for free body movements.
- Understand the specifications of the e-scooter.
- Ride only once you are proficient enough to ride.
- Know and obey traffic rules.
- Watch and learn about the path on which you are riding.
- Adjust the speed wherever it is necessary.
- Do not try to do actions that affect your balance.
- Watch out for pedestrians, other vehicles, and obstacles.
- Do not ride on the e-scooter on restricted pathways.
Read Full Story: KhaleejTimes