SAFETY OF E-SCOOTERS ON POLISH ROADS BETWEEN 2022 AND 2024

SICIŃSKA, Katarzyna; ZIELIŃSKA, Anna; OLSZEWSKI, Piotr; OSIŃSKA, Beata · 2025 · Crossref

DOI: 10.20858/tp.2025.20.4.04

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Summary

This study investigates the safety of electric scooters (e-scooters) on Polish roads between 2022 and 2024, addressing concerns regarding the rapid expansion of micromobility systems. The research aims to identify key risk factors associated with e-scooter usage, including infrastructure conflicts, user behavior, and demographic vulnerabilities, to inform regulatory and enforcement strategies. The authors employed a dual-method approach combining retrospective police data analysis and direct behavioral observation. Accident statistics were drawn from the nationwide Accident and Collision Register (SEWiK) for the period 2022–2024, covering 1,842 accidents and 4,295 collisions. To assess injury severity, the study calculated the Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) percentage for various accident categories. Additionally, a field study conducted in 2022 across three Polish voivodeships monitored 1,765 e-scooter users. This observational component utilized microwave radars for speed measurement and video recordings to assess the use of passive safety devices, such as helmets and reflective vests, under varying lighting conditions. The analysis revealed that e-scooter accidents resulted in 11 fatalities and 1,565 injuries among users, with 537 classified as serious. Carriageways were identified as the most hazardous location, accounting for 30% of accidents and exhibiting the highest KSI rate of 39.9%. Rollover accidents presented the highest risk by accident type, with a KSI of 40.9%. Excessive speed and alcohol influence were the primary causes of severe accidents, with KSI rates of 42.4% and 39.9%, respectively. Notably, 12% of crashes involved riders under the influence of alcohol, a rate significantly higher than the 4% reported in international studies. Behavioral observations indicated that the average speed of e-scooters was 20.6 km/h, with 54.2% of vehicles exceeding the 20 km/h speed limit. Safety equipment usage was critically low; only 6% of riders wore helmets, and merely 5% used reflective elements at night. Demographic analysis showed that men faced a higher risk of serious injury (KSI 37.4%) compared to women (29.9%), and injury severity increased with age, reaching a KSI of 53.8% for users aged 65 and older. The findings highlight significant gaps in compliance with existing regulations and underscore the need for stricter enforcement and targeted education. The study concludes that while Poland has adopted many international safety recommendations, current measures are insufficient to mitigate risks associated with speeding, alcohol consumption, and lack of protective gear. Consequently, the research indirectly influenced legislative action in July 2025, which introduced mandatory helmet wearing for all e-scooter users under 16 years old. The authors emphasize that improving road safety for this growing group of users requires a combination of legislative tightening, enhanced enforcement, and public awareness campaigns.

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• micromobility e scooter