[In-Depth Look] Electric Scooter Safety, At Least Wear a Helmet

Lee Jun, Associate Research Fellow at Korea Transport Institute

As the global spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues, many people are using personal mobility devices (PMs) such as electric kickboards and electric two-wheel boards instead of public transportation as a way to avoid face-to-face contact. According to a recent survey conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on shared electric kickboard usage in Seoul, the usage rate, which was only about 3.5 million cases from July to December last year, increased 4.3 times to 15.19 million cases from March to August 2020, making PMs an undeniable trend.

As a current trend, PMs have many advantages. They are the optimal means for speed, convenience, and social distancing. However, with the rapid increase in users, the accident rate has also risen. According to the electric kickboard traffic accident report by Samsung Traffic Safety Culture Institute, the number of accidents, which was less than 50 in 2016, increased to 181 in 2017, 258 in 2018, and 890 last year, and in the first half of 2020 alone, it surged about 18 times to 886 cases. In just half a year, it has already surpassed the total number of accidents from the previous year.

That is not all. According to a three-year investigation by the Korea Consumer Agency on electric personal mobility device injury cases, about 40% of victims suffered injuries to the head and face, and among them, 34 cases involved severe brain injuries. How did nearly half of the injured sustain injuries only to the 'head'? According to the National Police Agency's recent three-year data on personal mobility device traffic accidents, 93.7% of all fatalities and 83.2% of the injured were not wearing helmets. Wearing a helmet is the only way to protect the head and brain in the event of an accident, yet shockingly, most electric kickboard users do not wear helmets.

According to Article 50, Paragraph 3 of the Road Traffic Act, drivers of two-wheeled motor vehicles and motorized bicycles must wear helmets (personal protective equipment) while operating, and failure to comply results in a fine of 20,000 won. Electric kickboard drivers, classified as two-wheeled motor vehicles, are naturally required to wear helmets. However, when walking on the streets, it is rare to see anyone wearing protective gear while riding an electric kickboard. Due to serious safety negligence, the most basic safety measures are not being observed.

An electric kickboard is not the ordinary kickboard ridden in childhood; it is an 'electric' two-wheeled 'motor vehicle' powered by electricity. This means it is as dangerous as motorcycles and cars. As seen in previous cases, electric kickboard accidents are no different from car accidents. In fact, they can be even more fatal. Cars have protective devices such as seat belts and airbags, and most importantly, the vehicle body protects the driver, so there is some level of protection in the event of an accident. However, electric kickboards have no safety devices to protect the rider, making them highly vulnerable to accidents.

The government only sets the minimum standards to ensure safety; it cannot protect each individual's life. Unless the government monitors and punishes individuals' actions and thoughts, individuals must follow the minimum safety standards set by the government for their own safety. It is not about paying fines but about protecting one's own safety and life.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.