Work-related road traffic crashes: emergence of new modes of personal journey. Analysis based on data from a register of road traffic crashes

Fort, Emmanuel; Connesson, Nicolas; Brière, Julien; Ndiaye, Amina; Gadegbeku, Blandine; Charbotel, Barbara · 2024 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.04.24305326

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Summary

This study investigates the characteristics and evolution of work-related road traffic crashes in France, specifically focusing on the emergence of personal mobility devices (PMDs) such as electric scooters. Motivated by the steady increase in PMD usage since their market introduction and the fact that work-related journeys account for approximately 25% of all travel, the research aims to describe crash demographics, injury patterns, and trends from 2015 to 2020. The authors conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis using data from the Rhône Road Trauma Registry, which covers the Lyon metropolitan area. The study included 11,296 victims aged 18–70 years injured in work-related crashes (commuting or on-duty). After excluding passengers and drivers of specialized vehicles, the final analysis comprised 10,653 individuals categorized into pedestrians, bicycle riders, scooter riders, other PMD users (e.g., hoverboards, skateboards), motorized two-wheeler riders, and car/truck drivers. Injury severity was assessed using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and New Injury Severity Score (NISS). Statistical comparisons were performed using chi-square tests and ANOVA. The results revealed a dramatic shift in transportation modes among crash victims. Between 2015 and 2019, the number of scooter riders involved in crashes increased by 773%, while other PMD users increased by 200%. In contrast, motorized two-wheeler crashes decreased by 5.9%. Scooter crashes were predominantly commuting-related (95.6%) and occurred in urban areas. Demographically, scooter and PMD users were younger (over 50% under 34) and predominantly male. Notably, 65% of scooter crashes and 50% of other PMD crashes involved no opponents, suggesting single-vehicle incidents. Helmet usage was low, with less than 20% of scooter and PMD riders wearing helmets compared to 95% of motorized two-wheeler riders. Injury patterns for scooter riders frequently involved upper limbs (59.2%), lower limbs (46.8%), face (21.2%), and head (17.9%). Despite these injuries, 97.5% of all victims sustained low-to-moderate severity injuries (MAIS < 3). The study concludes that the rapid adoption of PMDs, particularly electric scooters, has significantly altered the profile of work-related road crashes. The high prevalence of head and facial injuries among scooter and PMD users, combined with low helmet usage, indicates a critical need for preventive measures. The authors recommend widespread helmet adoption and better employee education to mitigate risks associated with these new mobility modes.

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Topics

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• micromobility e scooter
• vru crash typology
• incidence prevalence

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence