E-scooter accident in Cologne: 88-year-old injured - driver escapes!

E-scooter accident in Cologne: 88-year-old injured - driver escapes!

On June 2nd, an accident occurred at Neubrücker Marktplatz in Cologne that raised many questions. An 88-year-old woman was hit by a suspected teenage e-scooter driver. The elderly woman suffered a fractured femur and now has to be treated in a clinic. The incident happened around 4 p.m. when the e-scooter driver lost control of his vehicle and injured the woman. The driver then checked the situation before running away. The police are now looking for widowers who can provide information about the fleeing driver and ask you to contact the Traffic Commissioner 2 on 0221 229-0 or by email poststelle.koeln@polizei.nrw.de, as ksta.de reports.

But it's not just the incident in Neubrück that makes headlines. Similar accidents are increasing in Cologne and show that riding on e-scooters is not without risk. An example of this is an incident in Cologne-Braunsfeld, in which a 39-year-old e-scooter driver was seriously injured after getting caught on a curb while moving from the road to the sidewalk, resulting in a shoulder fracture and a concussion. The accident occurred on October 26th and the rescue workers took the man to a hospital, as 24rhein.de reports.

E-scooters and their dangers

The increase in e-scooter accidents is a remarkable phenomenon in recent years. According to statistics from destatis.de, the number of accidents resulting in personal injury rose by a whopping 14.1 percent to 9,425 accidents in 2023, an alarming development that should also raise awareness of road safety.

The most common causes of these accidents are incorrect road use and the influence of alcohol, with 83 percent of those involved in the accident traveling on an e-scooter themselves. Statistics show that 41.6 percent of accident victims are younger than 25 years old, a clear sign that it is mainly young people who find themselves in dangerous situations.

Rules and regulations for e-scooter riders

Since e-scooters were approved for use on roads in Germany in June 2019, clear rules have applied: use on sidewalks is prohibited, and where possible, cycle paths or protective strips must be used. There is also a minimum age of 14 years for e-scooter drivers and a 0.5 alcohol limit for alcohol. These regulations are intended to help ensure the safety of all road users. But the fact that e-scooters are involved in 3.2 percent of all accidents resulting in personal injury shows that there is an urgent need for action.

The current accidents in Cologne illustrate the growing challenges in dealing with e-scooters in urban traffic. The city administration and the police are called upon to take preventive measures and protect cyclists and pedestrians, while at the same time promoting new mobility in urban transport.