Hoverboards banned at Georgia Gwinnett College

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- So-called hoverboards have been banned at Georgia Gwinnett College, making the state institution the latest in a growing list to prohibit the personal vehicles over safety concerns.

In an email to students, faculty and staff, campus police Chief Terry Schneider said that the “use, possession or storage of Hoverboards, Swagways or similar devices” is now prohibited in all campus buildings.

There is no ban on students or employees having the boards in their vehicles, but Schneider urged against that, too.

“This policy may be altered when additional information regarding safety standards can be developed,” Schneider wrote in the email. “ GGC’s priority continues to be the safety of the students, faculty, staff, and visitors on our campuses.”

The 11,000-student college in Lawrenceville joins Purdue, Rutgers and North Carolina State, to name a few of the higher-education institutions that have banned hoverboards in just the past few days as students have begun returning to campus from holiday breaks.

Concerns about the boards -- which don’t actually hover, but instead roll on small wheels -- skyrocketed after the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission announced it was looking into reports of the devices catching on fire both while charging and while in use.

“Consumers want and deserve answers about the safety of hoverboards,” commission Chairman Elliot F. Kaye said in a December 11 statement. “I have directed agency staff to work non-stop to find the root cause of the fire hazard, how much of a risk it might present, and to provide consumers with answers as soon as possible.”

While the fire hazard has captured the most attention, Kaye said a significant falling risk also may be present with the boards, which became a popular item during the holiday shopping season.

“CPSC has received dozens of reports of injuries from hospital ERs that we have contracts with and they continue to feed us real-time data,” he said in the December statement. “Some of these injuries have been serious, including concussions, fractures, contusions/abrasions, and internal organ injuries. Always wear a proper helmet and padding while using this product.”

(Photo: Swagway.com)