Researchers from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) have conducted the first large-scale naturalistic driving study of electric scooter (e-scooter) riders.
For 18 months, 50 e-scooters, fitted with cameras and research equipment, gathered over 9,000 miles of data from more than 200,000 rides on Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus.
Infrastructure-Related Risks
Researchers found that infrastructure-related factors, behaviors of e-scooter riders and others, and environmental conditions all posed risks to e-scooter users.
Infrastructure-related issues contributed to 67% of incidents, while other road users and rider behavior accounted for 19% and 14% respectively.
Transitions from one surface type to another, such as from gravel or dirt to grass, were particularly risky, with riders almost 60 times more likely to have a crash or near-crash experience.
Riding off designated paths or off-road increased the risk nearly 25 times compared to those riding on shared-use paths.
Averting Crashes with Vehicles
During the study, no crashes were recorded between an e-scooter and a moving vehicle. Conflicts with other road users appeared more avoidable through evasive maneuvers compared to infrastructure-related events.
Researchers believe this is due to riders misjudging the terrain or infrastructure, or lacking the necessary skills to navigate obstacles.
Next Steps: Improving Safety
The research team recommends educational outreach programs to inform riders about significant risks associated with infrastructure, behavior, and environmental factors.
VTTI and its partners will continue studying ways to enhance safety on and off the Blacksburg campus.
According to Elizabeth White, programs and business manager for VTTI, discussions are ongoing about the future of micromobility on the Virginia Tech campus.
A Leap in E-Scooter Safety Research
This historic study marks a significant step forward in understanding and improving e-scooter safety.
The insights could inform future policies and guidelines, leading to safer micromobility experiences for users worldwide.
The study was published in the Journal of Safety Research.
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