Statewide Iowa (RI) — AAA is launching a campaign in Iowa called “E-Ride Ready” which aims to help parents better understand the risks of letting their kids use electric scooters and e-bikes without proper training or safety gear.
AAA Iowa’s Brian Ortner says there is no clear data from the state on e-device injuries and deaths, but there is data from Iowa hospitals.
There are no statewide laws in Iowa regulating where e-devices can be ridden, there’s no set minimum age for riders, and there’s no law requiring helmets, though some Iowa cities and counties are starting to pass regulations.
The motor club’s campaign is designed to help parents understand how e-devices operate, choose helmets designed for the speed and type of device, and identify where riders can safely and legally ride.
A survey of data from the past year from Emplify Health by Gundersen found 53% of e-bike and scooter riders who were hurt were not wearing helmets, while 73% of their crashes were due to the rider losing control. Ortner says regular bicycle helmets may not bring sufficient protection for the speeds these electric devices can reach.
E-bikes and scooters are considerably smaller than a car, and visibility is a significant problem if they’re taken into traffic. Ortner says e-device riders need to be responsible and make the effort to be better seen.
A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission review found e-device-related injuries rose an average of 23% nationwide from 2017 to 2022, contributing to more than 360,000 emergency room visits and 233 deaths.
KIWA Staff Photo
