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Rolling News

Fewer than one in ten injured using an e-scooter wore protective headgear, says new study

Doctors have called for a review of the decision not to have mandatory helmet use for e-scooters in light of the study.

MEDICAL RESEARCHERS HAVE called on legislators to reconsider introducing mandatory helmet wearing for users of e-scooters after a new study found fewer than 1 in 10 individuals who attended hospital following a fall or collision involving the devices was wearing protective headgear.

Research by doctors at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown in Dublin claims injuries from e-scooters are a key and growing contributor to the number of patients attending its emergency department.

The study revealed that there has been almost a fourfold increase in the number of people attending the hospital with e-scooter-related injuries since 2020.

It found 22 individuals who had suffered trauma from an incident with an e-scooter had attended CHB’s emergency department between June 2019 and July 2020.

However, the numbers attending the hospital for the same type of injury over a similar 13-month period ending in July 2024 had climbed to 76.

The latest figures show just 8% of patients with an injury involving an e-scooter were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident – down from 40% in the previous study.

They also showed that 24% of patients required admission to the hospital with an average length of stay of 4.2 days, with 17% requiring some form of surgery.

The survey revealed that 45% of all those with e-scooter-related injuries suffered a fracture or dislocation – the majority of which related to bones in the upper limb followed by the lower limb, head and neck.

It found 40% of fractures had a comminuted pattern which meant the bone was broken in two or more places or had shattered.

Such injuries have long-term consequences for patients in terms of fracture healing, post-traumatic arthritis and functional impairment.

One person sustained a subdural haemorrhage around the brain which required admission for observation, while another injured party required three separate surgical procedures.

Overall, 44% of those with injuries required referral to orthopaedic services while only 25% were discharged home directly from CHB’s emergency department.

According to the latest figures, three-quarters of all those attending CHB with injuries from falls or collisions with e-scooters were males.

The average age of patients was 31 years, with two-thirds in the 18-35 age group.

More than 4 in 10 of those with e-scooter-related injuries were non-Irish nationals.

The study, whose results are published in the Irish Journal of Medical Research, observed that e-scooters were relatively new to Ireland when it carried out its first survey on related injuries in 2021.

However, it said the use of the devices had increased significantly in recent years due to their accessibility and affordability, while the number of injuries from falls and collisions had increased exponentially.

Researchers noted that the use of e-scooters in the Republic was legalised in May 2024 with use of the devices restricted to those aged 16 and over and to speed limits of 20km/h.

The study noted that five patients were travelling over 30km/h at the time of receiving their injury.

One of the study’s main authors, Aoife O’Halloran, said e-scooters were becoming a primary source of transport for many as Ireland was growing in multi-cultural diversity and the cost of owning and running a car was increasing exponentially.

Dr O’Halloran – an orthopaedic surgery registrar at CHB – observed that such a trend was reflected in the high proportion of patients who were non-Irish nationals.

“Unfortunately, as e-scooter use continues to surge, so does the resulting trauma,” she added.

Dr O’Halloran noted that 78% of patients needed some other form of radiographic imaging with 40% having three or more body regions imaged, while 29% needed further investigation with a CT scan.

“This not only increases radiation exposure for patients, but has large cost effects on the health service,” she remarked.

The registrar said the findings in relation to hospital admissions and length of stay also had huge cost consequences for the healthcare system.

Commenting on the sharp decrease in the use of protective helmets by usersof e-scooters, Dr O’Halloran said the uptake was poor with the wearing of helmets left to the discretion of the rider.

While the majority of injuries from using e-scooters involve the upper limb, she said 13% of injuries were still to the head and face.

“Legislation must consider including mandatory helmet use amongst all e-scooter users,” said Dr O’Halloran.

The study observed that Ireland’s first shared e-scooter scheme was launched in Wexford in August at a time when many cities including Paris, Melbourne and Madrid were now banning or suspending e-scooter rental schemes as their dangers and associated accidents were becoming apparent.

“Addressing safety concerns regarding e-scooters and the ability to rent the vehicles should be reviewed before resulting morbidity and mortality continue to rise,” said Dr O’Halloran.

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91 Comments
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    Mute Regular John
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    Dec 8th 2024, 1:36 PM

    Can never understand why cyclists and e-scooter riders don’t wear protective headgear.

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:11 PM

    @Regular John: natural selection at work, right there.

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    Mute Alan Moloney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:02 PM

    @Regular John: find them a €1,000 euro

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    Mute Bri Lyons
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:47 PM

    @Regular John: .

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    Mute tony hilton
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:08 PM

    @Alan Moloney: can someone find me €1000

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    Mute Regular John
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:14 PM

    @I’m a robot Robot:
    Huh ? Who are you ?

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    Mute Bennett blaster
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:57 PM

    @Regular John: I don’t understand why motorists don’t wear helmets and head and neck restraints

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    Mute Maximilian Kolbe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:15 PM

    @Bennett blaster: you might understand after a doctor examines your brain and tells you there is something seriously wrong.

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    Mute Regular John
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    Dec 8th 2024, 9:44 PM

    @Maximilian Kolbe:
    Honestly you would swear some of these people are already brain damaged !

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    Mute Liam Dwyer
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    Dec 8th 2024, 1:51 PM

    E scooters should be completely banned. Users don’t obey the rules of the road.

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    Mute Kevin Farrell
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:04 PM

    @Liam Dwyer: will we ban cars so? Motorists don’t obey the rules of the road. Nearly 100% of motorists exceed the speed limits in urban and suburban areas.

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    Mute Colette Mooney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:16 PM

    @Kevin Farrell: motorist drive on footpaths!!!

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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:27 PM

    @Colette Mooney: Yes. They do. Usually when parking on footpaths. I’ve been hit by a car while walking on the footpath.

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    Mute Darren Rowan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:31 PM

    @Kevin Farrell: This fixation on speed as the causal factor of all accidents is a national mania fed mostly by cycling advocacy groups. It is the same way of thinking that led to the Volstead Act prohibiting alcohol in America over 100 years ago. Many speed limits are needlessly slow and inconsistent with other roads in similar areas. Most pedestrians hit by vehicles have crossed the road recklessly ignoring safe crossing points a short distance away. Most cyclists ride recklessly with an inflated sense of importance above all other road users. They moan about lack of cycle lanes but then don’t use the ones provided. They enjoy obstructing drivers. I’ve driven transit buses around Dublin 5-6 days week for 21 years so I sure my opinion is more informed and insightful than most on this.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:00 PM

    @Kevin Farrell: 100% a massive exaggeration. Although something never change when people attack car drivers. Facts do not count to you, do they!

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:02 PM

    @Soundy Sound: Very rare thing to happen, It is the very first time I have heard of it. However cyclists and e-scooters hitting pedestrians on the footpath, is a daily occurrence.

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:11 PM

    @Liam Dwyer: At least they should require insurance and a registration number!

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    Mute martin finnegan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:42 PM

    @Kevin Farrell: but pay tax and insurance

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    Mute Sat Nav Maps
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    Dec 8th 2024, 1:38 PM

    Needs regulation urgently

    136
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    Mute P. J.
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:08 PM

    @Sat Nav Maps:
    Since when did regulation make a difference.

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:55 PM

    @P. J.: Erm. Seatbelts. Motorbike helmets. Airbags. NCT. Driving liscences. Age restrictions. Tyre condition. Lights. Baby seats. Mobile phones. Insurance…. etc etc etc I don’t know. I think maybe they make a difference.

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    Mute P. J.
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:26 PM

    @Louis Jacob:
    Woosh!!!

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    Mute P. J.
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:33 PM

    @Louis Jacob:
    Whoosh!!

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:46 PM

    @P. J.: Right. Silly me. Because you never see dumb comments on here.

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Dec 8th 2024, 1:53 PM

    How many on a footpath , on a phone , one handed , drinking on drugs carrying a person or shopping a slab of cans? But go to court if U have no tax on Ur car

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    Mute Kevin Farrell
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:05 PM

    @Pork Hunt: Yes, and that’s just car drivers! What about e-scooter users?

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    Mute jiminybillybob
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:18 PM

    @Kevin Farrell: defending the indefensible.

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:54 PM

    @Kevin Farrell: and whaddabout the cyclists and pedestrians ????

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:18 PM

    @Kevin Farrell: Learn a bit about what you are trying foolishly to defend. Rule 1, no e-scooter on the footpaths, yet that’s where the majority of them are being used. Rule 2, the limit is 25 kph, yet most are hacked to go faster. Rule 3, no more than 1 person on them, yet often seen with 2 in board. Rule 4, no one under the age of 16, another rule often broken by kids parents, who let the kids out on them. Rule 5, no seats on e-scooters, yet about 4 in my locality alone that have them, and I don’t mean mobility scooters.You may give out about motorists all you want but 99 % follow the rules of the road and 1% rotten eggs do not. With e-scooters it is the other way around….99% not following the law, and when they are banned, it will be the 1% that do follow the rules will suffer.

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    Mute Andrew Kenny
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    Dec 8th 2024, 1:59 PM

    E-Scooters should be 100% banned on all public roads. Private property only.

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    Mute Suzanne Phelan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:40 PM

    My biggest concern is their visibility. The difference a high visibility jacket would make to their safety. So many people are on scooters wearing dark clothing with a light 6 inches from the ground.

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    Mute Liam o sullivan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 1:46 PM

    And who will police it?the place is completely lawless!

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    Mute Éanna o Sca
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    Dec 9th 2024, 9:35 AM

    @Liam o sullivan: very true! Gardaí completely inept.

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    Mute Jp Cleary
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:12 PM

    Menace on the roads not to mention the footpaths

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    Mute Regular John
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:31 PM

    @Jp Cleary: Worse than cyclists.

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    Mute Tommy
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:33 PM

    If there was Motor Tax. Insurance and a driving licence category put on these yokes. There would be a mass abandonment of these death traps for motorists. As most users of these yokes wear mostly black clothing and have ear muffs on their ears listening to rubbish instead of listening to an Ambulance, Garda, Fire Appliance etc,

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    Mute Éanna o Sca
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    Dec 9th 2024, 9:36 AM

    @Tommy: …and usually off to do something not good

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    Mute Allo Allo
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:10 PM

    Trip to national rehabilitation center in Dublin should be mandatory for all cyclists and scooter riders, they would treat roads with respect after that.

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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:19 PM

    @Allo Allo: why not the same for all motorists?

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:04 PM

    @Soundy Sound: Because the cyclists and the e-scooter users are a lot more vulnerable than the motorists.

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    Mute Allo Allo
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:25 PM

    @Soundy Sound: more vulnerable and will blatantly go thre a 4 way junction on red light, no lights or safety gear, whatever about cars they dont break lights to extent of cyclists or scooters.

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    Mute Regular John
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:28 PM

    @Gary Kearney: and reckless.

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    Mute Alex
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    Dec 8th 2024, 1:53 PM

    Need cruelty to e-scooters legislation with some of the big units going around on the yokes who are too lazy to cycle or walk

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    Mute wwvCLOuF
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:39 PM

    @Alex: big units?… You mean overweight folk? Think the trend of people using e-scooters will tend to get more & more obese. (Not so dissimilar from the Wall-e movie plot). It’s kind of sad to see obese children use them, even though it’s not allowed.

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    Mute liam ward
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:35 PM

    They’re just as dangerous to us pedestrians on footpaths the guards should take a tougher stance on they’re proper use

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:12 PM

    @liam ward: Eamon Ryan left the rules vague on purpose!

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    Mute Lorry R
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:59 PM

    @liam ward: really? How many pedestrians on footpaths have been killed by escooters?

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    Mute Regular John
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:01 PM

    @Lorry R:
    The answer is probably none but that’s just an ignorant question. Why didn’t you ask how many people had been injured by them ? It almost sounds like you are ok with them being on the footpath as long as nobody is killed ?
    I don’t think you need to wear a helmet, it sounds like there isn’t much to protect in your case.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:43 PM

    @Lorry R: well, an elderly neighbour of mine got knocked over by one on the footpath, earlier in the year. The gurrier did not stop either, and the Gardai pretty much just shrugged their shoulders because no one saw what he looked like and no ID marks on the device. Now I know she wasn’t killed, but she never returned home either, and is after moving into a nursing home because of that happened.

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    Mute Eileen Kelly
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    Dec 8th 2024, 9:06 PM

    @Regular John: Four people died in 2023 when hit by e- scooters but equally a number sustained serious injuries.
    https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/number-of-people-who-have-died-in-accidents-involving-e-scooters-double-in-last-three-years-1545635.html

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    Mute Gerry Lamont
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:38 PM

    How many people involved with cycle accidents weren’t wearing headgear?. You can see the way this is going. E-scooters are unsafe so ban them. The problem,of course, isn’t the e-scooter it is the driver. Make it legal to wear safety gear..it isn’t rocket science.
    .

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    Mute Keth Tgi
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:49 PM

    @Gerry Lamont: ‘Make it legal’ to wear helmets. That implies it is currently illegal to wear helmets. But I get your point.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:35 PM

    @Keth Tgi: actually, it is legal to wear helmets, but not mandatory which means it is also legal not to wear them, just like front seatbelt in cars until 1979,when they were made mandatory, and for back seats on 1992. But until the rest of the laws are enforced concerning e-scooters, there is no point, because it will just be ignored too.

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    Mute John Power
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    Dec 8th 2024, 4:06 PM

    Bike or e scooter should be a law for lights and protective headgear , simple law which would save lives .

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    Mute Patrice Ahern
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:15 PM

    @John Power: You and I just know 100% that that is not going to happen. Let the carelessness and damage continue.

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    Mute Regular John
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    Dec 8th 2024, 10:02 PM

    @Patrice Ahern:
    Isn’t it incredible that you need to tell these people how to protect themselves? There would be far more killed every year if it wasn’t for motorists looking out for them.

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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:31 PM

    Why isn’t there ever a conversation about car drivers and passengers wearing helmets? Head injuries are very common in car accidents but no one ever suggests helmets. Why?

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    Mute Julio's Evil Twin
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:03 PM

    @Soundy Sound: right now I’m equally as confused by your line of thinking, as much as I am about the 3 limited IQ who approved your questions… [insert tumbleweed here]

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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:22 PM

    @Julio’s Evil Twin: Each year, 1.35 million people are killed in road traffic collisions (RTCs) globally, with at least 50 million people surviving after sustaining injuries.1 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability following RTCs, with an estimated 34 million people sustaining TBI in RTCs globally each year.2 Almost 70% of all RTC fatalities involve a head injury, with 32% due to isolated head injuries.3 In Europe, RTCs are the commonest cause of severe TBI.4–6 The majority of those injured are ‘active adults’ aged 16–55 years. This produces major long-term socioeconomic impacts, with TBI estimated to cost the global economy approximately $US400 billion annually.7

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:08 PM

    @Soundy Sound: Ah that old line. Drivers have seat belts, airbags and are in a protected environment. Cyclists and e-scooter users are not.
    Falling off a bike and landing on your head can create serious traumatic brain injuries. The data is all out there. Crashing on a bike and most bike accidents are single bike accidents makes the cyclist even more vulnerable.
    People that push for helmets on cyclists and e-scooter users are trying to protect them from serious injury or worse.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:12 PM

    @Soundy Sound: I know the stats for TBIs and there is a lot of work being done over motor vehicle design to get those figures down.
    The point you are making has noting to do with cyclist and e-scooter riders being made to wear helmets.
    Same as the why don’t drivers wear helmets. Classic redirect tactic that is worn out.
    The subject is helmets for cyclists and e-scooter users. Try and stay on topic, please!

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:27 PM

    @Soundy Sound: because to get a head injury in a car it’s already a major crash, after all seat belts are restraining the occupants, airbags inflate and the interiors in modern cars are actually a type of foam crash padding, and cars have crumple zones where if the impact is big enough, they collapse, absorbing a lot of the impact…now tell me do escooters and bicycles have any of these protections? Well? Here is a hint…..why do you think motorcycle riders wear them? Let us know when the penny drops.

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    Mute sean o'farrell
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    Dec 8th 2024, 4:55 PM

    Great putting legislation but as always no garda to enforce it same with all issues. It’s like they use legislation as a plaster for the problem

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:14 PM

    @sean o’farrell: Correct, the Gardai need to be on the street! To do that we need hundreds more Gardai!

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    Mute Paul
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    Dec 8th 2024, 4:14 PM

    Dole heads need them to get to the Post Office to pick up free money with expending any effort!

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    Mute Allo Allo
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:27 PM

    @Paul: this category should be exempt from wearing safety gear or having ro use lights.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:23 PM

    The funny part of it all is that people made claims about e-scooters.
    One, that they are green, mainly wrong there, only the very expensive ones are!
    Two, that they would take people out of cars, wrong again, most replace walking or cycling.
    Three, that they are safe, wrong, this article just shows the tip of the iceberg of this issue.
    Everything I point out is proven and the stats are available but I cannot post them here.

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    Mute Meh Meh
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:04 PM

    Anyone I see riding them always has their feet side by side, not one foot forward. Any kind of a sudden stop means instant front flip.

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:27 PM

    Generally speaking,they seem to prefer to dress in dark clothes,no hi viz vest,no lights at nighttime,as well as dangerous driving on footpaths,through red lights,wearing headphones with a blatant disregard for the rules of the road that apply to motorists,manually propelled devices and pedestrians. Apart from that,nothing. They should be confined to playgrounds for immature children to play on. Put them at the front of supermarkets where eager enthusiasts can insert a euro coin for a five minute thrill riding around in circles.

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    Mute Smelly Head
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:17 PM

    There is a huge push against headgear that starts in primary school. My son, 11, mortified to wear his helmet in front of his mates. Waits until they’re out of sight before putting it on. And pretty sure when I’m out of sight he takes it off. This carries through into adulthood, where they’re so used to not wearing headgear as kids, they don’t bother with it as adults.
    It’s the parents who need to be educated on this. Get them into a meeting at the school and have a paramedic show them exactly what damage can be done to lives if a child were to crash without a helmet.

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    Mute giles wolohan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:06 PM

    An emediate outright ban throw the legislation into the liffey

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:28 PM

    One more thing about helmets, they work but only if they are on properly. The amount of people wearing them incorrectly is frightening.
    What is worse, the majority of children wear them incorrectly too.
    Why do I care, simple really. I have had TBIs and would not wish them on anybody. Not from an accident, I was assaulted.

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    Mute RIP
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:54 PM

    E Scooter users and Cyclists without lights or reflective gear need to be fined on the spot. They are a nightmare on our roads at night.

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    Mute Ross McGee
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:36 PM

    Make e-bikers and e-scooters go through the same process that a motorcyclist or moped rider go through. Then tax them and make them take out insurance too.

    Soon sort this out.

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    Mute Alex
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    Dec 9th 2024, 8:54 AM

    It’s a misnomer that e-scooters are good for the environment. They are actually the opposite. In the main people who use them used to walk and cycle, they have not replaced cars.

    They require charging which comes from fossil fuels and their lithium batteries are a safety hazard. This is before any stats on harm they do to riders themselves and pedestrians.

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    Mute Derek Walsh
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    Dec 8th 2024, 4:35 PM

    It doesn’t seem like mandatory helmets are necessary if there were only ten injuries in the whole year that they might have prevented.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:20 PM

    @Derek Walsh: It will be considerably more than ten, and surely if you can save 10 people from getting traumatic brain injury, then that is a good thing.
    I mean how many parachutes fail each year, but they have the back up parachute all the same.
    In Germany accidents rose by 14% and fatalities doubled.

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    Mute martin finnegan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:41 PM

    Start fining people full stop

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:53 PM

    Maybe they should insist on enforcing the laws concerning e-scooters and e-bikes first before looking for more.

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    Mute Patrice Ahern
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:09 PM

    These irresponsible cyclists are becoming more and more careless. Soon, I’m sorry to say, that we’ll see a headline relating to a young 4- or 5-year old who happened to be running out the gateway of their home and whoooosh!!!, badly damaged or wiped out. I donl not want to hear that cops can’t be on every corner: from what I’ve seen in recent years, they are not on ANY corner.

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    Mute Alex
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:34 PM

    Well I don’t see any issue, any sensible person will wear protective gear. Those who don’t and end up dead can’t pass on their genes and it’s good.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:48 PM

    @Alex: a bit like the defence of free speech. Without it, we would not know who the lDl0T5 are!

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    Mute Keth Tgi
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:46 PM

    The edge of the road can be unduly mucky. Scoot into this and your scooter can slip from beneath you one way or another….under the wheels of a truck. Serious risk! But that said, they are Hero machines, in my view.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:14 PM

    @Keth Tgi: Organ Donor machines is another name for them too!

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Dec 9th 2024, 9:22 AM

    Moan about the lack of regulation and then complain about it after, a classic trait

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    Mute Gavin Smartr
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    Dec 9th 2024, 9:53 AM

    Dam near killed a younglad a few months ago on a scooter. Not sure why but he hit something on the path he was on and flipped out right in front of me. His head must have been millimeters away from my front wheels. I actually thought I’d killed him. I was very shaken for the whole day. Not nice.

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    Mute Fintan Pox
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:46 PM

    I’m getting one of them for Christmas

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Dec 8th 2024, 2:57 PM

    @Fintan Pox: Make sure not to wear a helmet.

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    Mute Maire Hicks
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    Dec 8th 2024, 3:46 PM

    @Fintan Pox: and leave the hi vis at home, sure ye be grand.. Lol

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    Mute William O leary
    Favourite William O leary
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    Dec 9th 2024, 8:52 PM

    where’s the green brained minister that promoted these things ….gone with a fat pension …

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