People aged in their 20s made the most claims for head injuries, with a total of 184. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery
People aged in their 20s made the most claims for head injuries, with a total of 184. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery
New figures released on head injuries caused while using e-scooters show almost $700,000 has been paid out by ACC since October last year.
And despite some licenced e-scooter companies requiring the user to be over 18 years old and to hold a valid driver's license, more than 10 people aged under 16 received head injuries
The figures detail the number and cost of e-scooter accidents that resulted in head injuries between October 2018 and April 2019.
Broken down by age group, people aged in their 20s made the most claims for head injuries, with a total of 184, while those in their 30s were the next highest on more than 69.
When it came to a cost breakdown, the highest cost of these claims came for the 30-39 age group which totalled $224,390 over the seven-month period. The 20-29 age group wasn't far behind on $206,639.
However, head injuries are just one of the claims associated with e-scooters.
Last month the Herald revealed that ACC had racked up just over $2.1 million in e-scooter related claims since Lime launched in New Zealand in October last year.
There were 2211 e-scooter accident claims, on both ride share and private scooters, between October 14 and May 10, including; 359 fractures or dislocations, 46 involving concussion and 44 dental injuries.
The worst accidents have required hospitalisation, such as 26-year-old Dunedin woman Renee Whitehouse, who suffered serious injuries including a fractured skull when her Lime tangled with a truck on January 18, and 27-year-old Auckland man Liam Thompson who broke his jaw after being thrown over his Lime's handlebars on February 9.
Last month Auckland Council announced it would run the second trial of the e-scooter ride share schemes until October 31, 2019.
The city now has three e-scooter rental companies, Lime - which has been operating in Auckland since October 2018, Wave - which launched its first e-scooters in March, and newcomer Flamingo.
Within the second trial, the council also announced a revised code-of-practice to improve user safety.
It encourages operators to enforce a 15km/h speed limit in restricted areas, and includes more stringent requirements on safety and risk management, and regular maintenance and weekly maintenance checks.
NZ Transport Agency spokesman Darryl Walker said further regulations for the use of e-scooters, including speed limits and helmet use, will be considered after the conclusion of the trial.
"The Ministry of Transport is also currently developing a regulatory package to encourage better designed and regulated footpaths that cater to all users.
"The package aims to improve safety by looking at what types of vehicles should use the footpath and in which way. Learnings from the current local authority scooter trials will be fed into this work," he said.
NZTA has launched an e-scooter campaign for major urban areas. Image / NZTA
Walker said while the Road User Rule does not require e-scooter riders to wear a helmet, the NZ Transport Agency strongly recommends that helmets are worn for safety.
"The main guidance for e-scooter riders is to be as safe as possible and be aware that cyclists, other road users and pedestrians may not hear them approaching," he said.
"E-scooter riders who do use the road rather than the footpath, are required to keep as far to the left as is practicable for their own and others' safety.
"Good and safe behaviour remains the priority when people ride e-scooters and anyone riding dangerously on any part of the footpath, cycle lanes or road may be subject to Police enforcement."
This week, NZTA also launched an e-scooter campaign for major urban areas, including; Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
The campaign looks to encourage safe riding and the wearing of helmets, and will be seen on bus shelters, street posters, neck tags on e-scooters and footpath decals.
