Electric scooter safety: How to avoid injuries while riding

The popularity of electric scooters is currently on the rise, and people are clamoring to get their hands on one. It’s no wonder, they’re efficient and eco0friendly, which appeals to the environmentalist in all of us. However, they’re still motorized vehicles and that means they’ll be in danger of interacting with cars and trucks on the road. This is why it’s important that you take measures to reduce your chances of crashing and injury. Here are some good examples to start with.

1. Leave the headphones at home
Driving the same route can get boring after a while. After all, your commute isn’t likely to change while you still have your job. When you’re heading to the gym, you’re probably going to take the most efficient route. Since you know the trip by heart, why not toss on some headphones to kill time while you drive? It’s not like the traffic will suddenly increase or become more reckless than usual.
Wearing headphones is one of the most dangerous things you can do while riding your scooter. Not only does the music drown out the important noises from traffic, but the headphones themselves suppress them as well. You aren’t even aware of your own perception; you instinctively react to certain noises while you drive. When you can’t hear these noises clearly due to distractions, you’re much more likely to end up in an accident, even if you don’t feel like it’s much different.

2. Remember to decelerate when appropriate
Being in a hurry is understandable. You have to get somewhere and there’s no time for delays or unnecessary stops. When you’re riding downhill, who has time to slow their pace when you’re getting a free and fast ride to the bottom? You just let gravity do its thing and you don’t have to worry about being late.
Going downhill is bad news when you’re in a scooter. There's no easy way to slow down and any collision you’re heading for is pretty much guaranteed. Not to mention, people hardly notice how fast they’re going when it’s a downhill slope. You could be going too fast to stop, even if you wanted to.
It might be smarter to take the time to slow down on any steeper streets. Use the brakes liberally while you’re heading down. It probably won’t save you from being late, but it might save your life.

3. Use bike lanes, they’re the safest option
If there’s something everyone can agree on, it’s the fact that most road accidents happen on the road. The name gives it away. This is because riding on the road means you’re going to be dealing with other drivers that are controlling huge cars and trucks, all of which can easily push around and damage a scooter. It would be convenient if there were a way for electric scooter drivers to avoid being right in the middle of the road. The good news is that there is a way: using bike lanes.
While motorcycles and scooters are colloquially called “bikes”, they aren’t always seen as such by lawmakers. Some states and countries allow scooters to drive on bike lanes, while others do not. It’s something you need to check out before you hit the road. Avoiding all of the most dangerous factors of the road would be extremely beneficial to your safety. Plus, using bike lanes is a lot less stressful than driving on the street.

4. Check the bike out every once in a while
The problem doesn’t always have to be your fault or the fault of other drivers. In many cases, the main issue could be a malfunction of your scooter. A tire could blow out or the treads could cause slippage.
In these situations, you’re pretty much at the mercy of luck. This is why you should always make sure your bike is safe and ready. Take a good look at it every once in a while. A check-up could mean the difference between getting in an unexpected crash and smooth sailing.

5.Keep that helmet strapped on
Sometimes, accidents will happen despite your best efforts to prevent them. In these situations, it’s important that you keep yourself safe. Even if an accident occurs, you can count on the right safety precautions to save your life. This is where safety gear comes in.
A lot of motorcycle and scooter riders underestimate the importance of safety gear. It’s often seen as uncool, impractical, and downright unfashionable. However, it’s one of the most important elements that decide whether you’re going to get injured or not. Plus, helmets have come a long way when it comes to aesthetics. You can easily find some cool scooter helmets online that match your taste. You don’t have to worry about looking bad while riding your scooter around town. More importantly, a helmet will keep you safe in the event of a violent collision.

6. Stay within the bounds of the law
As much as we wish this were true, motorized vehicles aren’t created equal. Generally, it’s a lot easier to maneuver around and turn in tight spots when you’re on an electric scooter. This means you can make moves and push through traffic even when cars can’t. People are a lot less intimidated by scooters than they are by cars, which means you can often get away with passing through pedestrian crossings early.
These moves might shave off precious seconds of your commute, but they can also be extremely dangerous. Other drivers are operating their vehicles with the assumption that you’re going to obey traffic laws. When you make sudden turns and unexpected movements, it’s a lot easier to get in an accident. Stick to the laws and you’re going to be a lot safer on the road.

Conclusion
While riding your scooter might seem like an innocuous activity at first glance, it's actually far from it. It's a pretty dangerous activity when you don't take the necessary safety precautions. You should try your best to mitigate the risk and hope you aren't unlucky on the road. Even if you end up being unlucky, there are some fail-safes that can keep you from getting injured.