Suddenly Here and There... Electric Scooter Accidents Have Significantly Increased

In 5 Years, Increased Nearly 15 Times to 3,421 Cases
Accidents Caused by Teenagers Surged About 46 Times

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The number of traffic accidents and fatalities caused by personal mobility devices (PM), such as electric kickboards, has significantly increased over the past five years. Accidents involving teenagers have surged approximately 46 times during this period. Cases of unlicensed driving, collisions with pedestrians, and accidents involving vehicles have also been found to be serious.

According to data received by Rep. Oh Young-hwan (Democratic Party) of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Road Traffic Authority on the 24th, PM traffic accidents increased nearly 15-fold from 117 cases in 2017 to 1,735 cases in 2021. The total number of accidents over five years reached 3,421. The number of fatalities also rose from 4 in 2017 to 19 in 2021, meaning that 13 people died per 1,000 accidents, Rep. Oh explained.

The types of accidents occurring over the past five years were led by pedestrian accidents with 1,191 cases (34.8%), followed by passenger cars (1,146 cases), bicycles (208 cases), and motorcycles (200 cases). The eight areas with the highest frequency of accidents nationwide included five locations in Seoul’s Gangnam area: Gangnam Station Intersection, Sinsa Station Intersection, Seolleung Station, south of Gangnam-gu Office Station, and east of Eonju Station.

Fires related to accidents are also increasing. The number of fires caused by electric kickboards and electric bicycles rose sharply from about 7 cases in 2017 to 45 and 50 cases in 2020 and 2021, respectively. These fires are mainly presumed to be caused by battery packs bursting or short-circuiting due to external impact or overcharging. Over the past five years, injuries from PM-related fires totaled 8 people, and property damage amounted to 942.76 million KRW.

Rep. Oh urged, "As kickboards and similar devices are increasingly used as means of transportation in urban areas, comprehensive government-level safety measures for preventing traffic accidents and fires must be established."

Unlicensed Driving and Not Wearing Helmets

According to the Road Traffic Authority in July, traffic accidents caused by kickboard drivers classified as offenders increased fourfold from 225 cases in 2018 to 897 cases last year. The number of casualties reached 995.

Accidents involving collisions with pedestrians last year numbered 304, a fivefold increase compared to 61 cases in 2018. Serious legal violations were also found in accidents involving collisions or crashes with vehicles.

According to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, an analysis of 127 videos of accidents between kickboards and cars showed that many accidents were caused by kickboard users violating traffic laws, such as riding on sidewalks or going against traffic. The most frequent accidents (26%) occurred when kickboard users crossed roads or parking lots while riding on sidewalks, and 87.4% (111 cases) of all accidents involved kickboard users not wearing helmets.

Additionally, accidents caused by teenagers using kickboards have surged approximately 46 times over the past five years. According to data titled "Recent 5-Year PM Accident, Death, and Injury Status by Age Group," submitted by the National Police Agency to Rep. Kim Jeong-jae of the People Power Party on the 21st, the total number of PM accidents involving youths aged 19 and under was 816 over the past five years. The numbers were 12 in 2017, 21 in 2018, 48 in 2019, 186 in 2020, and 549 in 2021, showing about a 46-fold increase.

Regarding accidents caused by youths, cases of being caught driving PM devices such as kickboards without a license were 3,482 in 2021 and increased more than twofold to 7,486 by August this year. Although the Road Traffic Act amendment (imposing a 100,000 KRW fine for unlicensed PM operation) was implemented in May last year, the licensing verification process is inadequate, effectively allowing unlicensed use by teenagers, Rep. Kim pointed out. He stated, "Accidents involving unlicensed use of PM devices by youths are on the rise," and emphasized, "There is a need to amend laws to regulate sharing companies that overlook unlicensed PM use."