Drunk driving comes to e-bikes: Study shows 3x rise in ER visits due to accidents

Overall picture: When we think of drunk driving incidents, we usually think of drivers under the influence of alcohol driving cars or trucks. However, in recent years, a new safety problem has appeared on our streets: drunk e-bike and e-scooter drivers. Fortunately, despite the growing popularity of these lightweight electric vehicles, fatalities in this category remain relatively rare.

Injuries related to e-scooters and e-bikes have tripled since 2019, according to a study published in the Injury Prevention Journal. Among more than 4,000 emergency department visits analyzed, alcohol use was reported in 8.6 percent of e-scooter incidents and 2.5 percent of e-bike crashes.

Perhaps even more surprising is the profile of the typical drunk EV driver: a young male prone to risky behavior. Men were found to be 2.6 times more likely to drink alcohol compared to women. It is alarming that the study disclosed that adolescents aged 10–17 years were 7.5 times more likely than adults aged 18–39 years to have used alcohol or drugs that contributed to an e-scooter or e-bike accident that landed them in the emergency room.

While the consequences of accidents involving e-scooters and e-bikes are relatively minor compared to car accidents, experts warn against complacency. Between 2019 and 2022, approximately 279,990 emergency department visits in the United States were for e-scooter-related injuries, and 16,600 were for e-bike-related injuries. These numbers are expected to rise as electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity.

A big part of the problem is the inherent instability of electric scooters compared to bicycles. Their vertical position makes them much more difficult to control, especially at high speeds or on uneven terrain. Combined with low levels of helmet use, head injuries are one of the most common consequences when riders lose control and crash.

Akshaya Bhagavatula, professor of epidemiology and co-author of the study, explained Scientific American noted that infrastructure, regulations and public awareness of the risks associated with impaired driving have lagged significantly behind the rapid adoption of these devices.

Bhagavatula highlighted some simple ways to improve security. Stronger public messaging and regulations encouraging helmet use are critical. Additionally, electric vehicle companies could take a more active role in promoting protective measures, especially the use of helmets, to reduce the risk of serious injury.