Bicycles and electric scooters are increasingly causing injuries and even deaths among children. Dr. Alan Shreider, a pediatric specialist and researcher at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, emphasized that this type of accident is on the rise, sharing his experience of nearly colliding with an electric cyclist in New York.
Increase in Accidents and Injuries
On November 2, Shreider and his colleagues published an article in the JAMA journal that examined children injured in accidents involving electric bicycles, electric scooters, skateboards, and non-motorized bicycles in the United States. Based on data collected between 2023 and 2026, accidents involving electric bicycles have increased by about 400 percent, and accidents involving electric scooters have increased by nearly 200 percent.
Read more: Lindsay Clancy Returns to Court in Her Children's Murder Case
Serious Injuries and the Need for Legal Action
This research shows that severe injuries, such as those requiring surgery or hospitalization in intensive care, occur nearly twice as often in accidents involving electric vehicles compared to regular bicycles and scooters. Dr. Stephanie Chao, a pediatric trauma surgeon, stated that this significant increase in injuries indicates a health crisis for children. She also noted that many of these accidents involve children under 12, who are at greater risk due to insufficient development of motor skills and decision-making.
The number of accidents is continuously rising, and researchers hope their study can help establish restrictive laws for the use of electric vehicles by children. For example, it is suggested that certain types of these vehicles be made illegal for children, and in case of violations, both children and parents could face legal action.
The Difference Between Electric Bicycles and Electric Motorcycles
Dr. Preeti Panda, a pediatric emergency physician, pointed out that much of what people refer to as "electric bicycles" are actually electric motorcycles that can reach speeds over 60 miles per hour. Regulations regarding these vehicles vary by state, and in California, these vehicles must be registered as motorcycles. As a result, children under 16 cannot ride these vehicles.
Panda also mentioned that during her emergency room assessments, she regularly sees at least one case of injury caused by electric vehicles. In her research, she examined parking lots of local schools, and the results showed that about 80 to 90 percent of the electric devices observed in these locations are electric motorcycles.
Given that children typically lack the strength and coordination necessary to control these vehicles, the risks associated with them increase. Dr. Chao also noted that the time required to stop an electric bicycle or electric scooter is significantly longer than that of a regular bicycle or scooter, which can lead to more serious accidents.
Despite the fact that a complete ban on electric bicycles and scooters may be unrealistic, researchers believe that reasonable restrictions could help reduce these injuries.
Read more: Exercise Program Halves Death Risk on Transplant Waiting List · Great Guyan General Hospital Performs 100 Robotic Surgeries
