The injury rate for Malaga escooter users is 40 times higher than the national average, and 87% of them are not wearing helmets.

Nine out of ten Malaga patients treated for escooter-related injuries had something in common. No helmet.

Steep rise in e-scooter accidents

Researchers from the University of Malaga documented a dramatic rise in the number of e-scooter accidents in the city. Cases increased from two per 100,000 residents in 2018, to 80 by 2023. The findings are based on a Juan Melgar thesis, which was supervised by Dr Iskandar Taimi, and conducted with Dr Enrique Guerado and Dr Almudena Pérez, as well as Dr David Gonzalez Quevedo. It was based on data from over 400 patients treated at emergency departments from 2018 to 2022.

The money spent to treat these injuries has increased by an astonishing amount. A separate study by another UMA student found the annual cost linked to scooter accidents grew more than thirtyfold in five years, from around €13,000 in 2018 to nearly €500,000 in 2023, covering both healthcare bills and lost working days.

Face-first problems, bruises and breaks

The most common injuries were contusions (72%), followed by fractures (12.9%), open wounds (12.6%) and dislocations (2.5%). Dr David Gonzalez noted that 34.5% all fractures were in the facial bones, while wrist fractures accounted for another 13.5%. It is frightening to learn that 87% of the patients treated had not worn a helmet.

The combination of alcohol and age makes matters worse

Researchers have found that older riders experienced worse outcomes. Tamimi says that “we saw a direct correlation between age and severity. The older the rider the more severe the injury.” She adds that scooters shouldn’t be used by anyone over 60. Alcohol and drug abuse, especially late at night, increased the risk.

From the pavement onto the road

The study has led to changes in traffic rules, but they have not prevented collisions. The investigators discovered that pedestrians being knocked down on pavements led to an increase in road collisions.

It’s interesting to note that more collisions hasn’t necessarily meant more serious accidents. Tamimi points out the low speeds that have prevented most road accidents from becoming serious, despite their increasing numbers. Gonzalez says that falls from scooters themselves are the most common cause of injury. They account for more than 70%, while collisions between cars only make up 15%.