D.C. Fatality of Electric Scooter Rider Sparks Safety Concerns

The man was crossing through Dupont Circle when he was struck by a silver SUV and pinned underneath the vehicle. Now identified as Carlos Sanchez-Martin, age 20, from Silver Spring, the man was dragged by the SUV for about 20 yards. Firefighters arrived on the scene and pulled him from the wreckage, then rushed him to the hospital where he soon died from his injuries. When the accident occurred, this man wasn’t on foot, and he wasn’t riding a bicycle -- Sanchez-Martin was riding an electric scooter.

Sanchez-Martin rented the scooter from Lime, one of the three companies in the District that rent out electric scooters -- the other companies being Bird and Skip. These companies operate a lot like bikeshare programs, and each company is licensed to rent up to 400 scooters. These scooters reach speeds of about 15 mph and helmets are not required.

The recent explosion of electric scooter riders has raised safety concerns among community members and leaders. As the Washington Post reports, city council member Mary Cheh has said, “I am a little concerned about safety issues, because I do see some [scooter] users who do appear to me to be a little bit reckless, weaving in and out of cars, and going up and down on sidewalks and going around people in a way that looks a little dangerous, but I figure there may be ways to try to get that under control.”

“It looks like a lot of fun,” Cheh adds, indicating her willingness to work with the public, the rental companies and other city council members to find an amicable solution to this emerging danger. Technically speaking, electric scooters are not allowed on the sidewalks downtown, but these rules aren’t always followed.

The city takes part in the Vision Zero Network program, which is dedicated to eliminating traffic fatalities by 2024. Across the nation, a number of cities have enrolled in this program to put a concerted effort toward setting goals for preventing collision-related fatalities. But the introduction of electric scooters seems to have thrown a small wrench into the works.

Called by some to be a public menace, electric scooters have been getting introduced to different cities over the last few years. At about $3 per ride, they seem to offer an easy way to get from here to there, without even requiring a license. Indeed, after riding these little vehicles, riders report a refreshing, fast way to get around town.

The electric scooter phenomenon was preceded by Segway, which allowed for similar electric mobility. Cities still struggle with the idea of how to regulate these machines in a sensible way to ensure public safety while maximizing efficient travel.

Questions remain over the lack of helmets and other regulations such as alcohol intoxication levels. Potential injuries from accidents could range from brain and spinal cord injury to death. In addition, many people jump on electric scooters without knowing how to operate them or interact with traffic.

City officials will be doing more in the future to analyze these risks and take measures in the best interest of public safety.