The beloved and hated electric scooters have created a lot of discussion.
In the capital, they are on almost every street corner, and many would like to see the number greatly reduced.
Figures from the Urban Environment Agency show that there are around 20,000 electric scooters in Oslo today. In comparison, in the summer of 2019 it was “only” 5,000.
– I am concerned that we should regulate the use of electric scooters strongly in Oslo. The players have had free rein for too long and it has become hugely popular, but now there are far too many, said the then City Councilor for Environment and Transport in Oslo, Lan Marie Berg (MDG), to NTB in February.
Bergen and Trondheim are also clear that they want more control. Both municipalities have taken electric scooter companies to court in an attempt to regulate the market.
– How difficult can this be?
– Often berusa
Recent figures from the Oslo Emergency Department show that there have been close to 1,600 accidents on electric scooters in the capital in one and a half years.
And the risk of being injured on an electric scooter is ten times greater than the risk of being injured on a normal bicycle.
– There is often intoxication in the picture, especially in the evening, says operations manager in the Oslo police district, Gjermund Stokkli, to Dagbladet on Saturday.
Not surprisingly, the combination of available scooters in areas with many restaurants is very unfortunate for traffic safety.
– The chance of harming others and oneself is much greater when driving while intoxicated, says Stokkli and continues:
– The accidents we are involved in are the ones that go really bad. We are notified when there are more serious incidents, such as personal injury.
According to Trygg Trafikk, there is three times as high a risk of being seriously injured when using electric scooters in Oslo at night than there is during the day.
Not surprisingly, there are especially many accidents on the weekends, and as many as 41 percent of those injured on electric scooters, ride under the influence of drugs, according to the emergency services.
Last night, an electric scooter driver drove into a stationary car and was slightly injured. On Friday, the Oslo police responded to an accident in which a drunk man was injured after a single accident with the tool.
– Even though there is no alcohol limit on electric scooters, you can still get a penalty, says Stokkli, and tells of a man who three days ago was deprived of his driver’s license after colliding with a car while intoxicated.
The operations manager says that he notices that the number of electric scooter accidents in Oslo is increasing.
– Something has to be done
– Wear a helmet
– It is important to pay attention to other road users and to drive carefully, he says.
Stokkli points out the importance of wearing a helmet.
– I experience that many do not wear a helmet on an electric scooter, but it is important, and the head injuries come quickly, he says.
Of the 286 injuries in which the electric kick cyclists suffered head injuries, only 4 wore a helmet, according to the emergency room.
The figures show that it is head injuries and injuries to the arm that make up over 65 percent of the injuries. Of the most serious injuries, most are knee and leg injuries followed by head injuries.
The report also states that the majority of the injured are men between the ages of 25 and 34.
Woman (31) died after being hit by an electric scooter
– Drives far too fast
Night to Saturday, an electric scooter with three people on it overturned, during an attempt to drive up on the sidewalk at Majorstuenkrysset.
This driver also blew over legal value and had his driver’s license confiscated.
– Many electric kick cyclists use the sidewalk even when there are many pedestrians there. Many people drive too fast and put both themselves and others in danger. It would have been best if a ban on the use of electric scooters on pavements was introduced, or a low speed limit there. This will make it clear that on the sidewalk we will travel on the pedestrians’ premises, says communications manager at Trygg Trafikk Ingrid Trømborg in a press release.
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