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The CDC is Studying the Rise in Electric Scooter Injuries For the First Time as Startups Expand To More Cities (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the about-time dept.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is examining the rise of injuries related to shareable electric scooters. From a report: "We want to identify the risk factors for those who get injured, how severe the injuries are and why they're getting hurt," said Jeff Taylor, manager of the Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit with Austin Public Health. Taylor, who is overseeing the investigation, is working with three CDC epidemiologists to examine severe injuries that occurred in Austin from September to November 2018. He said both agencies have completed collecting data and are currently in the process of summarizing various reports. "There's a perception that scooter-related injuries occur at night. Well that's not true," Taylor said. "Our study will show they occur during all times of the day. People may also perceive there's typically a car involved. But our study finds most of the time the rider may hit a bump in the road or they simply lose their balance."

5 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Small wheels are crap by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Scooters have been around a long time but they have only ever been popular in countries where people can't afford vehicles with larger wheels. There's a reason for that, and it should be obvious. The smaller the wheel, the larger every road obstacle seems, and the harder they are to get over. In recent years, bicycle wheels have gotten bigger because of this factor.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:Small wheels are crap by JimSadler · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Some people are slow learners when it comes to scooters and even on brands like Vespa which have had gasoline engines for 70 years or so will have new riders flop over sideways at times. It is a balance and perception problem and has nothing to do with the scooters themselves. The larger wheels seen on bicycles is a myth. If you look back to the penny farthing bicycles huge wheels and full size wheels have been common. Today we see that sustaining a speed as well as pedal input effort on a touring bike requires large diameter with very narrow tires. Yet mountain bikes do better with a bit smaller and fatter wheels. Small, 20 inch wheels work fine and can be very strong but they are also slow and require more pedal effort at higher speeds. The best answer for new scooter riders is to dress to crash. Hand, elbow and knee protection and quality head gear make all the difference and the least experienced riders need more safety gear.

  2. Re:Why is the CDC investigfating this? by mysidia · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The CDC is a Public Health Agency, and their mission includes the prevention of injury and disability as well; the CDC are also involved in addressing public health concerns related to environmental health, occupational safety, health promotion, and injury prevention.
    For example, they provide information about Obesity and Diabetes, even though these are not considered infectious disease.

  3. CDC should stick to disease control by schwit1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is a transportation or consumer product safety issue.

    What's the matter CDC, not enough work dealing with the current crop of nasty bugs in the world(Flu, Ebola, etc)? You now feel the need stick your noses into areas that are clearly outside the scope of a DISEASE CONTROL agency?

    If you want to be helpful please go after Facebook.

  4. Re: Why is the CDC investigfating this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Ahh statistics. 100 percent of everyone being born is going to die. Life is a disease that we need a government agency to protect us from. Also if you are black you are 12 percent more likely to commit a crime, be a victim of a crime or have high blood pressure. Clearly being black is a disease the CDC needs to protect us from. Also people with low windshield washer fluid are 9.3 percent more likely to have serious automotive problems. We need a 3 letter government agency to protect us from the disease of low windshield washer fluid.

    Hooray for science, statistics and goverment agencies that protect us from real life and thinking.

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