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Series of accidents in Kiel: E-scooters and alcohol cause serious injuries!
During the accident weekend in Plön there were numerous traffic accidents, including collisions with e-scooters. Injuries and investigations are the result.
Series of accidents in Kiel: E-scooters and alcohol cause serious injuries!
Last weekend there were several traffic accidents reported in Kiel and Plön that made the public sit up and take notice. The officers from the Kiel Police Department had to go on several missions at once. The circumstances of the collisions are particularly alarming, as they show that the risk of accidents in road traffic continues to increase.
There were accidents on Saarbrückenstraße and on federal highway 202 near Martensrade in which drivers were involved in accidents without the involvement of other road users. A notable incident occurred on June 14th: an 83-year-old German wanted to turn from Skandinaviendamm onto Wittland Street and collided with a 28-year-old who was riding a rented e-scooter on the cycle path towards Kronshagen. The young woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The influence of alcohol as a cause of the accident
The same day brought another incident in which a 36-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle on Federal Highway 202 and ended up in a ditch. Alcohol was also involved here: the man was under the influence of alcohol, which is why a blood sample was ordered and proceedings were initiated for drunken driving.
Such incidents are not isolated. The popularity of e-scooters has increased rapidly in recent years, which has also resulted in worrying dynamics in the number of accidents associated with them. According to a recent survey, the number of injured e-scooter riders treated in hospital has increased fivefold since 2019, from 1,200 to 6,000 in 2023. What is shocking is that 12% of the e-scooter drivers involved in accidents were drunk at the time of the accident, according to the KFV. For comparison: In car accidents it was only 4% of drivers and in motorcycle accidents 3%.
A worrying picture
Self-accidents dominate the picture: 77% of e-scooter accidents are considered self-inflicted. The average age figures show that the risk primarily affects younger drivers. In 2023, the average age of e-scooter riders involved in accidents was 34 years old, while older people, such as e-bike and bicycle riders, tend to be involved in accidents less often.
Particularly striking: Serious injuries are often concentrated on the head and face. Over 80% of seriously injured e-scooter users are treated in the intensive care unit. An analysis shows that 62% of those seriously injured had alcohol in their blood, with a third being above the legal limit. Almost half of the accidents occurred at night, highlighting the need for additional safety measures.
Demands for more security
The calls for compulsory helmet use for e-scooter drivers are getting louder. In Austria the helmet wearing rate is only around 9%. The KFV also calls for comprehensive safety measures such as a second brake and reducing the speed to 20 km/h. It is recommended that e-scooters be made more difficult to access at night and in accident hotspots, while the possibility of pre-rental response testing is also discussed.
As the weekend in Kiel shows, active intervention is urgently needed to ensure safety on our roads. Education and prevention measures are essential to avoid serious head injuries and other accidents. Further research also needs to clarify how effective similar strategies have been in other countries. The situation is serious and immediate action must be taken to increase the safety of all road users.
The developments in Kiel are just one example of this growing problem. While the numbers are alarming, it is to be hoped that changes will soon take place in both driver behavior and legal requirements. Responsibility for your own safety should always come first.