Big jump in e-scooter, e-bike injuries the last four years, CPSC finds
CBSN
It's a good idea to wear a helmet when taking a spin on electric scooters, electric bikes, hoverboards and other so-called micro-mobility products. That's because injuries stemming from their use spiked 70% over the past four years, spurring nearly 200,000 emergency room visits, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Viewed as eco-friendly (studies have found that's not exactly the case) and cost-effective modes of transportation for short distances, the battery-powered products were part of the equation in more than 190,000 E.R. visits and at least 71 deaths from 2017 through 2020, according to the federal agency.
Injuries involving the products have steadily risen, causing 34,000 trips to the hospital in 2017 and 57,800 last year, the CPSC noted in a recent release highlighting data from a not-yet-released report.
