The death on a micromobility has nothing to do with scooters

Like any means of transport, e-scooters also present risks. We are tragically reminded of this by the death of an 18-year-old in Milan following a collision with a car. Statistics show a growing trend, in line with the spread of urban micromobility: a team of researchers from Otodi (the Association of Hospital Orthopaedists and Traumatologists of Italy) documented 441 patients with injuries requiring specialist consultation in the city of Rome alone between 2018 and 2024. Over 25 per cent required surgery, mainly as a result of fractures to the upper limbs (27 per cent) and lower limbs (25 per cent). The causes are varied and only partly attributable to carelessness (both on the part of those riding the scooters and the drivers of any vehicles with which they may have collided). More often than not, it is the condition of the roads that makes accidents more likely and more serious: potholes, poorly maintained road surfaces and the lack of dedicated lanes are all risk factors.

With the reform of the Highway Code, the government has attempted to curb the most dangerous behaviour by making helmets, number plates and insurance compulsory (and we shall see if and to what extent this proves effective). But it is even more important to address the wider context. Firstly, issuing new decrees and imposing new obligations serves little purpose if they are not enforced: a more widespread police presence would help considerably, acting as a deterrent to behaviour such as dangerous driving or failing to obey traffic lights and traffic signs. Secondly, road maintenance will never be enough: a more reliable road surface has positive effects not only on safety but also on pollution caused by vehicle traffic; and not just for e-scooters but for all modes of transport. Instead of cracking down on e-scooters, we should ensure that all road users can get about safely and with peace of mind.