AUSTIN, Texas — A new report is in today suggesting the swarm of electric-powered scooters now buzzing around Austin isn't the public safety threat many are claiming. And this report comes from an agency in a position to know something, Austin-Travis County EMS.
ATCEMS says in the third quarter of the year --July through September-- of the more than 29,000 patients they handled only 48 patients came to them because of an incident involving an e-scooter. Doing the math that's just 0.16% of their patients last quarter.
And that number is tiny compared to the number of e-scooter miles driven. ATCEMS Commander Kevin Parker says, “In that same fiscal quarter 725,000 trips were taken with about the same number of miles driven.”
EMS leaders conclude that e-scooters pose a very minimal impact on the EMS system and have minimal effects on residents and visitors other than rider of the e-scooter involved in a mishap.
They add that e-scooter use reduces traffic jams in congested areas and enhances movement capability of EMS gear and vehicles. Parker explains, “There are some functional gains that we get particularly in the special event world where we see a high concentration of scooter use. It allows our apparatus and our motorcycles and our special response units to navigate through traffic a little bit easier, instead of all of those individuals being in cars or other methods of transportation."
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But since the most common e-scooter injuries continue to be to the face and head, first responders are still strongly recommending safety gear. They’re very supportive of wearing helmets and really any type of protective equipment.
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October 17, 2023 at 05:36AM
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Electric scooters not a significant public safety threat, says Austin-Travis County EMS report - KEYE TV CBS Austin
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