The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic and the National Institute of Children's Diseases point to serious injuries that threaten to fall from the electric scooter. Disrespecting rules, risky driving, and overestimating abilities often end up being injured. Doctors at hospital emergency incomes have been increasingly dealing with fractures or concussions.
With the popularity of scooters, the number of accidents on this increasingly popular vehicle is increasing. This year, 65 children were treated at the emergency reception of the National Institute of Children's Diseases from the beginning of May to mid-June overall in connection with the fall from the scooter. In 18 patients, their condition also required hospitalisation. The primary of the Department of Urgent Income of the National Institute of Children's Diseases in Bratislava was pointed out by Marcel Brenner.
Hospitalized children were operated on for fractures or treatment of concussion was required. As he added, 32 children were treated in the same period in 2022, nine of which had to be hospitalised. Thus, we recorded a 100% increase in the period under review, Brenner warned. After falling from the scooter, injuries are increasingly solved not only in the capital, but also in medical facilities throughout Slovakia.
Injuries can end not only collision with the car but also fall. The most common injuries are head injuries with concussion and limb injuries. There is no need to overestimate your skills when driving and maximum caution is needed. Protective equipment is also very important to improve safety and reduce the consequences of a fall or accident - a helmet should not be missing on the head that can protect against serious head injuries. Reflective elements and lighting are important when driving in reduced visibility. Serious injuries threaten not only children but also adults who should avoid alcohol consumption before driving.
Basic principles for safe driving on an electric scooter:
- Especially in children do not forget the protective helmet, protectors and reflex elements.
- Think of caution and caution, not overestimate your abilities.
- While driving, hold the handlebars with both hands, except giving a change of direction sign.
- Only one person is allowed to drive on a scooter.
- Only persons over 15 years of age can drive the road on an electric scooter (younger only on bike paths, field and forest roads and residential zone).
- On the pavement cannot exceed the speed of walking and endanger and limit pedestrians.
- It runs on the right side of the pavement and the road.
- It is forbidden to use a phone or other device while driving.
- Watch out for the wet surface, there's danger of a skid. It can be dangerous to extrusion or other inequality.
- A combination of scooter and listening to music over headphones is dangerous.
- Adult persons are advised to avoid any alcohol consumption.
The most common causes of accidents caused by scooters are:
- Not fully driving and not following the road traffic situation.
- Not adjusting the speed of driving to your abilities.
- Take-off without a change of direction sign.
- Not giving priority in driving from the side road to the mark Give priority in driving! vehicles arriving on the main road.
- Improper road ride, pedestrian path or pedestrian passage.
- Wrong crossing or crossing. (Source: PPZ)