Sharp rise in pedestrians injured by e-scooters

E-scooter injuries have surged over the past year, new government figures have shown.

More pedestrians were hurt in crashes with the gadgets in the 12 months leading up to June than during all of 2020, when records began, according to data from the Department for Transport.

The figures also revealed that teenagers and older children were the most likely to be hurt riding e-scooters.

The statistics come after a student warned of the dangers of new electric transport devices after an e-moped crash in Italy saw her almost lose her leg.

E-scooters are illegal to ride in public in the UK outside of designated trial areas. People caught riding them on public roads or pavements can face a £300 fine and six points on their driving licence.

However, the devices have exploded in popularity during lockdown and are now a regular sight on the streets of the nation’s cities.

The figures, released by the DfT on Thursday, showed that there have been 931 accidents involving e-scooters in the 12 months leading June this year. However, there were just 484 accidents recorded in the last tranche of figures released by the Government, which were for the year of 2020, suggesting there has been a large increase in crashes in the first half of this year.

The number of pedestrians hurt by e-scooters has increased dramatically, with 131 injured in the year to June, compared to just 57 over 2020.

The figures also showed the largest number of casualties were among those aged between 10 and 19 years old, with 257 injured by e-scooters. The second largest number of casualties was among 20 to 29-years-olds, with 217 hurt.

The statistics recorded that three e-scooter users were killed in crashes. Shakur Pinnock, 20, died in hospital in June, six days after he was involved in a crash with a car in Wolverhampton.

The figures do not distinguish between incidents involving e-scooters that were rented or privately owned.

Student badly hurt in e-moped crash

Meanwhile, a Newcastle University student warned of the dangers of novelty electrical transport devices after being badly injured in a crash in Rome.

Eleanor Young, from Nettleham, near Lincoln, suffered a double break of her right leg and a severed artery when her e-moped collided with a Smart car while on holiday in the Italian capital in August 2020.

The 21-year-old Newcastle University modern languages student also suffered dental fractures, was in intensive care for five days, and needed three operations before she was flown home.

Ms Young has undergone five further procedures in the UK and had to give up her studies for a year while she recovered at home with her parents.

Investigations are continuing into the crash and she has appointed lawyers from the firm Irwin Mitchell to help her access the specialist rehabilitation she needs.

She said: "I had to defer a year of university and had to move back home with my parents. I was unable to properly get out of the house for months and I felt very alone.

"Since August 2020 I've had eight surgeries on my leg and a surgical procedure in my mouth due to severe damage to my teeth.

"A lot of people, particularly younger people, think e-scooters and e-mopeds are fun.

"However, like any vehicle, they can lead to serious injuries."