Electric Scooter – A safety guide for parents and kids.
Riding an Electric Scooter is one of the newest forms of transportation. We see kids zipping around towns and cities, as well as adults,all day, every day. And what better way to get young people away from their television and video games and get them outside and having fun than to have them ride an electric scooter!
Electric Scooter Safety is not a joke.
Like everything in life, owning an electric scooter comes with responsibility. Since last Christmas’s rush of electric scooter sales, we have seen an increasing number of electric scooter injuries. Most of the electric scooter accidents involve kids 15 years old or younger. The worst part, almost all of these injuries could have been avoided with a little attention paid to basic scooter safety.
Take the proper precautions when riding an electric scooter.
Here are the top 5 guidelines for electric scooter safety that everyone who uses scooters should observe:
ALWAYS use a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads.
70% of all electric scooter accidents can be prevented if the rider wears the proper protective gear. All of the above costs around $50. Most stated enforce electric scooter safety laws and anyone riding a scooter must wear at the very least a helmet.
Supervise children under 8 years old if they are riding an electric scooter.
Just like wearing protective gear, about 70% of all electric scooter accidents involve kids under 8 years old. Scooters can get up to speeds of 15 mph. Children under 8 rarely have the judgement and coordination to handle those types of speeds.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Ride electric scooters where cars are infrequent, especially for youngsters. Don’t ride over bumps, uneven pavement, rocks, or wet ground. School playgrounds, parks, paved trails are great places to ride a scooter. And, if you or your child insist on riding electric scooters on sidewalks, be careful for pedestrians. Remember, they have the right of way.
Rules of the road, obey them for your own good.
As you know, some electric scooters can travel just as fast as other types of vehicles. These vehicles must follow the rules of the road and so should you.
Look both ways when coming out of your driveway and entering the street.
Even if you don’t know the official hand signals, use some form of hand signal when turning or stopping.
Like bike riders and automobile drivers, follow all traffic lights and signs.
Only ride your scooter in the daytime
It is difficult enough to zip around on a scooter in a busy neighborhood, you don’t need to have your child racing home in the dark. Be sure to keep the scooter at home when it starts to get dark. Most kids don’t where the proper night reflective gear just walking down the street, it is more than likely they will not be wearing any on an electric scooter either.
You can check out my electric scooter featured review of the Razor E200 Electric Scooter HERE!