The Flemish Traffic Foundation (VSV) and the Antwerp Hospital Association (ZAS) advocated for stricter regulations for electric scooters on Friday. The call comes as a response to newly released figures on the number of accidents.
According to ZAS, Antwerp hospitals' emergency departments see one patient every eight hours due to an accident involving an electric scooter (or e-scooter).
While the traffic safety institute, Vias, reported 850 e-scooter accidents in Flanders in 2023 and 937 in 2024, Antwerp hospitals alone see more cases, according to ZAS. In the last year and a half, the hospital umbrella organisation recorded a total of 1,580 of these types of cases.
On Friday, ZAS emergency doctors called on the government to tighten regulations on electric scooters in Flanders. Their recommendations include limiting scooter power to that of an electric bicycle and requiring helmets. These measures, they argue, could significantly decrease severe injuries.
According to the VSV, there is a need for more research into the safety of e-scooters, as accidents involving them are often not recorded. "It's good that the ZAS is investigating and publishing this kind of data," said VSV spokesperson Werner De Dobbeleer. "It would be good if all hospitals did the same."
The Flemish Traffic Foundation added that more regulations at a European level are also needed to make e-scooters safer.
In 90% of cases, according to ZAS, the e-scooter driver arrives at the emergency department themselves; the remaining cases involve a third party, such as a cyclist or pedestrian being hit.
Falls account for 80% of injuries, while collisions cause the remaining 20%. Most accidents occur in city centres rather than in suburbs.
The study also noted gender and age differences, with men involved in 62% of incidents compared to 38% for women. People aged 25 to 34 account for just over a third of cases, while those aged 15 to 24 represent about a third. Despite age restrictions, ZAS also sees some 14 and 15-year-old riders.
Doctors observed that half of all accident victims are unable to work afterwards, highlighting a significant social and economic cost. Additionally, 8% required hospital admission for observation or surgery immediately or sometimes after the accident.
The research was conducted by Dr Lore De Moor and Dr Keiko Verhaeghe, who analysed medical records from five emergency departments between July 2022 and January 2024. The study was supervised by emergency doctors Kurt Anseeuw and Brecht De Tavernier.
