The Centers for Disease Control, in coordination with Austin Public Health, has released the findings of an epidemiological study on injuries related to the use of dockless electric scooters. The study is a first-of-its-kind in the nation.
Of the cases reviewed between September and November of 2018, 160 were injuries that were confirmed to be directly tied to scooter use. An additional 32 injuries are believed to be related to scooters.
Of the 192 total injuries, nearly 50-percent involved fractures, major abrasions, and head wounds, including six fractured skulls. 70-percent of injuries involved damage to the upper extremities, and 55-percent were also injured on the lower extremities.
80-percent of all of the injuries were classified as “serious.”
The study also found only one person was wearing a helmet at the time of their injury.
The Austin City Council will use the CDC study for an ordinance governing dockless scooter use, which has been in the works since last year.
