New research from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) reveals trends in e-scooter usage across Ireland, alongside growing safety concerns surrounding this mode of transport.
The survey of e-scooter usage, which the RSA commissioned Ipsos B&A to conduct, found that 5% of adults (aged 16 years and older) had used an e-scooter in the past 12 months, with 4% being regular users (i.e. those who use an e-scooter at least monthly).
Key demographics of the regular users include: 3 in 5 use e-scooters daily or weekly; 76% are male; 75% are under the age of 35; and 65% live in Dublin, with 97% residing in urban areas – reflecting a clear pattern: e-scooter usage is concentrated among young, urban males, particularly in the capital.
E-scooter users’ were also found to regularly use other forms of transport, with the majority being motor vehicle drivers, but also cyclists and public transport users. E-scooter use has replaced driving but also walking and cycling for some of those that regularly use them.
Among all adults surveyed, e-scooters are now perceived as the most dangerous form of transport in Ireland, surpassing motorcycles in terms of perceived risk. Alarmingly, nearly one in four regular e-scooter users (24%) have been involved in a collision, while one in three (32%) have experienced a near miss. All reported collisions involved male riders.
RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR
Dr John Cronin, Emergency Medicine Consultant at St Vincent’s Hospital and board member of the Road Safety Authority said the research aligns with injuries being treated in emergency departments.
“E-scooters have quickly become a popular mode of transport, particularly in our cities – but with that popularity comes vulnerability.
“We’re seeing a high and growing number of incidents, particularly among younger people, often involving no helmet or use in inappropriate or unsafe settings.
E-scooters offer real mobility benefits, but without responsible behaviour, proper care and awareness from all road users, they also bring a high risk of injury.”
FOOTPATH USE
Further insights show that one in three of these users ride on footpaths, something not permitted under the new regulations, as they can pose a safety risk to pedestrians. Approximately 1 in 10 indicate they carry a child passenger (13%) or an adult passenger (8%) on an e-scooter. However, 3 in 5 (60%) indicate they wear a helmet and 2 in 3 (66%) wear reflective gear when using an e-scooter.
Three in four users are aware that e-scooters were now legal to use on Irish roads, with strong public support for the laws introduced. Though there is public uncertainty on the enforcement of the e-scooter laws, regular users consider it likely that they will get caught by the police if they break them.
Half of all respondents think the new 20km/h speed limit is appropriate, compared to 35% of regular users. While over 1 in 3 (36%) of all respondents indicate they believe the speed limit is ‘too high’, compared to 30% of regular e-scooter users.
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