Study: Scooters are 3.5X Safer Than Motorcycles

[BahamasBiker]

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/53964/scooters-safer-than-mopeds-and-motorcycles-study

<<SNIP>>

Motorcycles were the most lethal of the three, according to the research, with 3.4 percent of reported crashed resulting in fatality, compared with one percent of reported moped and scooter crashes.

According to the study, the difference in crash severity was related to the circumstances the vehicles were used in.

"Scooter riders also exhibit safer behaviour than motorcycle riders, despite both groups meeting the same licensing requirements. This suggests a difference in attitude which sees motorcycle riders taking more risks on the road."



HERE'S MY VIEW, HAVING OWNED GAS MOTORYCLES, GAS SCOOTERS, ELECTRIC BIKES, SCOOTERS AND MOTORYCLES: The motorcycles have twitchy throttles, harder to control.


IN OUR CIRCLE, two have died from motorcycle accidents. And, two guys have amputated feet from motorcycle accidents.


IMO, the safest ride, whether gas or electric, is a 3-speed electric scooter. (Not a triangle-ebike,) All other factors being equal.



Electric Bicycles in a Crash Test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsivCHB_zzk

 

[fehlbergo]

So shouldn't the report finding state: On average scooter riders are 3.5X safer than motorcyclists?

Of course a motorcycle has the potential to be more deadly than a scooter. But at the end of the day it's comes down to how safe the rider is. I haven't ridden enough bikes/scooters to know whether "twitchier throttles" of some motorbikes have anything to do with control and safety, but I'd say that's a slightly separate issue to do with rider confidence with said bike, or bike maintenance...

I'd also assume the motorcycle safety record would be greatly impacted by the amount of "hoons" who ride unsafely. I don't think there are many scooter riders who hoon around... Which seems to be pretty much what that study suggests.

More powerful bikes can even be used as a safety advantage - to get the rider out of dangerous situations quickly. This reason, plus inexperience could be why that report shows mopeds as the most incident prone.

Just my 2 cents

 

[LockH]

Electric Bicycles in a Crash Test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsivCHB_zzk

Uploaded in 2011. Newsflash! German Insurance business fears drop in auto insurance business! Large, heavy, expensive vehicles (designed to travel much faster than most urban speed limits) are threatened by tiny, slow, cheap vehicles traveling at much slower speeds!

Somebody (else) should do something! (Not even sure what this video about bicycles has to do with "scooters" OR "motorcycles"?)

 

[ecycler]

Here is a scientific fact for them:

That video, all of the 'research' and people involved with producing it = poop

 

[Ykick]

So crotch rocket (sport bike) riders tend to be more aggressive than scooter riders. How about telling me something I don’t already know?

 

[ewinters]

Here is a scientific fact for them:

That video, all of the 'research' and people involved with producing it = poop

http://9gag.com/gag/aNZXv3A?ref=android

 

[wineboyrider]

Then there is the fact that I love my Honda Elite 150 's cvt in urban traffic. Actually easier to leave a whole bunch of Aholes behind at a traffic light from a dead stop to 45 mph...... An electric scooter would rock! 8)

 

[ecycler]

Maybe it is because everyone who drives a scooter is as tough as this guy!
[youtube]C8kW8LpS6Io[/youtube]

Seriously, though. What an amazing video. I think he should get out of football and apply to be the next superhero.

 

[ecycler]

After watching the video again, I think street justice rules should be he gets to punch the old guy driving the truck in the nuts within 10 seconds of the impact if he is so able. His shoe must have gone 30 feet in the air and his helmet and all other protective gear vaporized! :lol:

 

[Scottydog]

[youtube]T4r1hvUo0ko[/youtube]

 

[maydaverave]

Having been in many mountain bike, bmx, ebike, scooter, maxi scooter, sport bike, cruiser, and ujm crashes I would say that I prefer wrecking a scooter over every other two wheel vehicle. It's the low center of gravity, step through design, and over all low height. If you don't hit anything and have room to roll its all about how far you are from the ground. In an average wreck your going to fall a couple feet less to the ground on a scooter. Also sometimes motorcycles slam you into the ground and in an identical situation on a scooter you simply step through and slide free. Almost every bicycle wreck I have been in has been worse than all my scooter accidents some around fifty five mph. :lol:

 

[maydaverave]

If I had to choose wrecking a scooter at forty mph and a mountain bike at fifteen mph I would choose the scooter. My own personal experience is that scooters are safer than bicycles.

 

[Scottydog]

I have to say I've seen many times when scooters crash the riders legs get crushed between bars and the seat when the frame bends.

 

[ecycler]

If I had to choose wrecking a scooter at forty mph and a mountain bike at fifteen mph I would choose the scooter. My own personal experience is that scooters are safer than bicycles.

You are insane. I have had one 55+mph wreck (full MC gear) and low sided into a guard rail (better than sliding off the side of the mountain, I guess) so I can tell you first hand that recovery from something like that is never 100% even if done in your stupid 20's. The difference between the physics of a 40 and 15 mph impact and what they can do to the human body regardless of the machine propelling you are completely different worlds. Thus the main difference in safety between MCs and scooters.

This one is worth watching through to the end, I promise.
[youtube]CjgT8Af1kGc[/youtube]

 

[LockH]

Hehe... One of YT suggestions following above is "Fails of the Month".

Also might depend on whether the rider slides or slams into... something:

 

[1JohnFoster]

Wow, great videos. And great analysis.

So far we've identified the following factors in scooter safety:
1) high speed kills, scooter speed merely maims and provides amusement
2) falling from a low seat height hurts less (so for better effect try an MC or a well)
3) sliding is less effective than slamming (so try to keep upright long enough to hit something else upright.)

I suggest a final factor in scooter safety: the way the handlebars are turned. I propose the theory that this is linked to the way in which the vehicle is mounted. Whereas MC and bicycles require the rider to be capable of raising one leg to successfully mount, scooters may be mounted (and driven) by persons incapable of such vigorous motion, and indeed possibly not awake, perhaps wearing pyjamas and slippers and with eyes closed or barely open. This may result in less pressure on the handlebars, particularly in road situations requiring "turning away" (object avoidance) behaviour.

My old Da got hit by an electric scooter just getting out of his car door in a parking lot. Very similar to the videos, the scooter (no license required, hallelujah!) with two people on it, was snaking around randomly at full throttle. Scooters (especially electric) are often purchased by people who have never ridden either bicycles or cars as an adult, have never taken driving lessons or passed a test. In other words they have never been made to think about how traffic works and assume that no thinking or understanding is required.

Bikes (and scooters) of all kinds should require a driver's license and insurance; get bikes and LEV's out of toy land.

 

[granolaboy]

Coincidence that motorcycles are 3.5x as fast as scooters?

Kinda hard to get into too much trouble with 150cc or less...

 

[maydaverave]

If I had to choose wrecking a scooter at forty mph and a mountain bike at fifteen mph I would choose the scooter. My own personal experience is that scooters are safer than bicycles.

You are insane. I have had one 55+mph wreck (full MC gear) and low sided into a guard rail (better than sliding off the side of the mountain, I guess) so I can tell you first hand that recovery from something like that is never 100% even if done in your stupid 20's. The difference between the physics of a 40 and 15 mph impact and what they can do to the human body regardless of the machine propelling you are completely different worlds. Thus the main difference in safety between MCs and scooters.

]

I used to love seeing how far I could lean a fifty cc scooter. If it slid out from underneath me at forty I would fall a couple inches and slide fifteen feet. Not a big deal with safety gear. On the other hand I have gone over the handle bars of bicycles at fifteen miles an hour slam into the ground face first from a five foot fall and that ain't fun at all. The only time I broke bones in a wreck was from a car merging unexpectedly into my lane clipping the front tire of my motorcycle slamming me into the ground. On a scooter I would of stepped through.

 

[ecycler]

Not sure what you are getting at here. I still stand by original comment. If you step/jump/skip/fly off of anything at 40mph it is going to mess you up regardless of how close to the ground you were or how you parted with the vehicle. The only exception would be if you are wearing full leathers and are lucky enough to just skid across a smooth surface after a lowside.

I am not hating on scooters at all. I ride the wheels off anything I can get my hands on. Some of the most fun I have ever had on 2 wheels has been on scooter rentals during vacations in random places, though I will say everyone of them I tried to scrub the 'chicken strips' off of dragged body work or the kick stand before they could get nearly as low as even the shittiest of motorcycles. I think you are confusing the confidence/flickability that the low center of gravity and small diameter wheels provide for capability. About 15 years ago, I actually dragged the kickstand off a Vespa when my buddies and I set up a race course in a parking lot on vacation.

 

[veloman]

I'm not surprised at all. Who really pushes the limits on a scooter? There is a significant segment of motorcyclists who live for pushing the limits.
Plus the whole power/speed capability difference.

However, I personally don't feel confident making turns on a scooter with 10" wheels.

 

[Chalo]

3.5 is approximately the ratio in potential energy between a vehicle going 55 mph and the same one going 30 mph.

 

[parabellum]

There is also the question "What is one accident?" I see scooters falling to the ground (with rider), hitting parked vehicles and flying out of the road in soft turns randomly, without any apparent reason at low and no speed very often. There is no fatality but accident is there. Almost every motorcycle accident I witnessed was very serious and in real situation.

 

[spinningmagnets]

There are young males on sport bikes that are popping wheelies, and riding very aggressively. Those type of guys typically would never be seen on a scooter. I think the major effect is just the riders.

 

[maydaverave]

There are young males on sport bikes that are popping wheelies, and riding very aggressively. Those type of guys typically would never be seen on a scooter. I think the major effect is just the riders.

I live in a tourist town with scooter rentals. I have seen some idiot riders, I saw a tourist on a scooter talking on his cellphone. Worked fine until he hit the brakes :lol:

 

[1JohnFoster]

There are young males on sport bikes that are popping wheelies, and riding very aggressively. Those type of guys typically would never be seen on a scooter. I think the major effect is just the riders.

I live in a tourist town with scooter rentals. I have seen some idiot riders, I saw a tourist on a scooter talking on his cellphone. Worked fine until he hit the brakes :lol:

I'm an idiot bike rider. I use a cell phone often while riding, just like all the idiot car drivers around me. Only when Justin invents the self-driving bike will I be saved from my idiocy. MC drivers will never accept salvation as driving into hell is their willful preoccupation.