E-bikes have been so popular in recent years. It has changed the image of the bicycle industry. From youth to old, everyone is choosing these bikes as their daily riding partner. The motor assistant driving and battery support have made these bikes more attractive. Most of the E-bikes come with a top speed ranging from 35-50 km/h. That’s why, people often think that these bikes are out of risk, and accidents won’t cause them any greater harm. Here, we will know the severity of e-bike accidents, and how to avoid this scenario in real life.
E-Bike Accident Statistics:
According to a journal published on the Heliyon on ‘Analysis of road traffic accidents and casualties associated with electric bikes and bicycles in Guangzhou, China’, the accidents with E-bikes were nine times greater than the accidents that occurred with non-motor bi-cycles in the 2018-2021 timespan. About 69.6 % of these accidents happened from collusion with 4-wheelers.
As per the Consumer Product Safety Commission of Europe, about 233 people died from E-bike accidents from 2017-2022. The number of emergency room visits with this type of accident was 34,000. In 2022, the number increased to 77,200, almost double. About 1,354 were admitted to Los Angeles Hospitals from 2014- 2020 due to E-Bike accidents.
Are E Bike Accidents severe?
E bikes are basically bicycles. So, in most of the cases, people think that the accidents won’t be as serious as bikes or cars. But, in reality, the scenario is different. E-bikes use motor support for better speed and acceleration. But, this also increases the rates and chances of injury. At high speed, riders often lose control while taking a turn. Besides, most of the E-bikes don’t provide enough braking support for emergency braking.
People often suffer from head injury, maxillofacial trauma, fractures in hand and legs, and skin lacerations after the injury. According to research, about 70% of the people suffer from traumatic head injury, even after wearing a helmet. According to the European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, there is a high chance of cerebral injury to people who don’t have a helmet during E-Bike accidents.
What are the causes of E Bike Accidents?
There may be different reasons behind an E-bike accident. Here are some of them:
- Most of the accidents occur due to the lack of experience of the rider.
- Over speeding is another cause of the accidents. It’s hard to control an E-bike in sharp turns, as most of them lack traction controls and other advanced features.
- Overconfidence is another reason, like unsafe overtaking in a high traffic area or tendency to ride on the top speed of the bike.
- Due to mechanical or technical errors in the bikes, Bikers may face unwanted accidents on the road.
- Driving vigorously without understanding the road conditions and obstacles can cause accidents.
How to decrease the severity of E-Bike Accidents:
Firstly, we highly recommend you to drive your E-bike safely, so that you don’t need to face any accidents. But many times, you may face an accident without your fault. to avoid the severity of the injury, you must wear proper riding gear. If you are planning a long tour, you should wear a good jacket, riding boots and hand gloves. And, helmets reduce high chances of cerebral injury from accidents. Buy a certified helmet to save yourself from severe head trauma. And always remember, over speeding kills. The chances of accidents, as well as severity decreases when you drive your E-bike at an optimum speed.
