Surveying e-scooter accident risk among teenagers: The case of Norway

This study investigates accident risks associated with e-scooter use among Norwegian teenagers, focusing on trends over time, gender differences, and the role of e-scooter type. Using data from 21 205 participants aged 12–22 across two survey sets (2021/2022 and 2023), we examined the influence of gender, age, e-scooter ownership, and rental availability on accident risks, applying Generalized Linear Models with a negative binomial distribution. The findings reveal a 22 % increase in the likelihood of reporting injuries and a 57 % increase in injuries requiring medical attention in 2023 compared to 2021/2022. A follow-up survey in 2024 was issued to clarify the timing of earlier accidents, aiming to distinguish between accumulation effects and actual increases in risk. The results indicated that accident accumulation effects from earlier years inflated the reported risk among older teenagers, whereas the rise among 12–15-year-olds appears genuine. Females had a higher overall risk of accidents, while males were more likely to experience severe injuries requiring medical attention. Privately owned e-scooters were consistently associated with a higher risk of accidents than shared e-scooters, with this disparity more pronounced in 2023. While the introduction of stricter regulations, such as helmet mandates, nighttime bans, and alcohol limits, showed a potential trend towards reduced injury severity for shared e-scooters, this effect was not statistically significant. In contrast, the persistent high risk among privately owned e-scooter users and older teenagers highlights the need for additional safety measures. The study’s large sample size strengthens the reliability of the findings and their potential implications for policy and research.