@article{ref1,
title="Shared electric scooter injuries admitted to Auckland City Hospital: a comparative review one year after their introduction",
journal="New Zealand medical journal",
year="2021",
author="McGuinness, Matthew J. and Tiong, Yvonne and Bhagvan, Savitha",
volume="134",
number="1530",
pages="21-29",
abstract="AIM: E-scooters were introduced to New Zealand in 2018 as a means of city transport. Since their introduction, their use has resulted in high injury rates. No studies have directly compared e-scooters to other forms of transport. <br><br>METHOD: The Auckland City Hospital trauma registry was retrospectively searched for patients admitted with an e-scooter injury. A comparison group of patients admitted with an injury secondary to cycling during the same period was collected. <br><br>RESULTS: 178 patients were identified: 69 with e-scooter injuries and 109 with injuries sustained while cycling. The hospitalisation rate for e-scooter injuries was 326 hospitalisations per million hours. There was a significant difference found in blood ethanol levels (18.6 vs 6.4% positive, p-value=0.01), mechanism of injury (isolated falls: 87 vs 60.6%), time of injury (55.1 vs 40.4% between 5pm-8am) and protective gear use (worn in 10.1 vs 78.9%). No differences were found in injury severity, ICU admissions, length of stay or mortality. <br><br>CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a concerningly high e-scooter-related hospitalisation rate and suggests e-scooters are currently not as safe as cycling. Strategies to improve e-scooter safety are needed and could include zero tolerance for alcohol, mandatory protective gear, restricted operating times and changes in road laws.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0028-8446",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}