Investigating e-scooter injury and severity before and after the restriction policies in Helsinki, Finland

The emergence of shared electric scooter (e-scooter) systems has introduced a new micro-mobility option in numerous urban areas worldwide. Safety concerns surrounding e-scooter riding have prompted some cities to impose bans or restrictions on shared e-scooters. This study aims to assess the impact of e-scooter restriction policies, e.g., nighttime bans and speed reductions, on the spatiotemporal distribution of e-scooter injuries and factors influencing injury severity in Helsinki, Finland, in 2021 and 2022. Researchers employed an ordered logit model, heatmap analysis of crash locations, and temporal analysis across different time frames to achieve these objectives. The findings indicate a 64% reduction in the number of e-scooter injuries after the restrictions. However, the severity of injuries experienced only a slight decrease. Notably, the trend of injury severity appeared smoother in 2022 compared to 2021, with spikes occurring from Friday to Sunday. The spatial distribution of injuries revealed that, in 2021, most injuries were concentrated in the city center, while in 2022, the crash locations were more scattered due to the increased area serviced by e-scooters. The study also underscored the substantial impact of alcohol intoxication, as it significantly increased the probability of more severe injuries. Furthermore, higher age groups and the time period from 4 PM to 9 PM after the restrictions were more likely to experience higher injury severity. These research outcomes offer valuable insights for other cities and municipalities, providing valuable lessons on how to tailor their own policies to effectively reduce the number of e-scooter-related injuries.