E-scooter chaos in Vienna: Toddler injured in accident!

E-scooter chaos in Vienna: Toddler injured in accident!

A serious incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Vienna-Alsergrund when a 39-year-old e-scooter driver collided with a five-year-old child on a sidewalk. Loud Cosmo The Czech national drove on the sidewalk in violation of current traffic regulations, which ended in a painful encounter. The child suffered minor injuries and had to be taken to hospital for medical treatment. Although the e-scooter driver was uninjured, he now faces several charges because his vehicle did not meet the required performance standards.

Vienna is increasingly confronted with a wave of e-scooter accidents. According to the Austrian accident statistics, the number of injured e-scooter drivers will reach 7,500 injured people in 2024, an alarming increase of 25 percent compared to the previous year. In 2023, 6,000 injuries were already counted, and since 2019 this number has increased more than sixfold ( KFV ). In view of these frightening statistics, controls by the Vienna police are being increased in order to take action against violations such as driving on sidewalks and technical defects.

A worrying trend

The accident also has an impact on citizens’ perception of safety. While 78 percent of e-scooter accidents are solo accidents, 45 percent of road users perceive e-scooter riders as the main cause of conflicts in road traffic. There are also alarming trends regarding alcohol consumption: in the first half of 2024, 16 percent of e-scooter drivers were drunk, which represents an increase compared to 2023 ( KFV ). In addition, the helmet wearing rate among e-scooter riders in 2024 will be extremely low at just 13 percent.

The Vienna police have decided to increase the safety standards on the streets. Regular campaigns at accident hotspots are part of the package of measures to counteract the increasing number of accidents and the associated injuries. In addition, the KFV is calling for the introduction of regulations that could, for example, require a general helmet requirement for e-scooter drivers, a second brake and signaling elements such as bells and flashing lights.

The high price of the accident

A total of seven e-scooter riders died in 2024, a record number that should further raise awareness of the risks in road traffic. The discussion about speed limits, which could be reduced from the current 25 km/h to 20 km/h, is also getting louder. This could help prevent future accidents and therefore increase the safety of both drivers and pedestrians.

A detailed look at the new regulations and safety measures could be crucial in the coming weeks. The authorities are focusing on deficiencies in the safety-relevant equipment of e-scooters and the frequent violations of traffic rules. Tuesday's accident could serve as another wake-up call to increase road safety for everyone.