Darwin study finds e-scooters are leading to ‘catastrophic injuries’, pressure on health system

All patients admitted to hospital following a bust-up on an e-scooter were on the booze, a Top End study has found. See the “significant” impact they are having on the health system.

E-scooters are having a “significant” impact on the Top End’s health system, a new study has revealed, with more than 100 presentations to ED in just eight months.

Of those, all who were admitted to hospital were intoxicated while riding.

The research, which involved Royal Darwin Hospital and Charles Darwin University experts, found that about a quarter of patients also required an operation.

Jamie Moran, a Royal Darwin Hospital emergency medicine specialist and lead author of the study, said alcohol contributed to some “catastrophic” injuries.

CCTV footage shows a woman faceplanting off a neuron scooter in the Darwin CBD. Picture: Facebook

“Of those patients that we tested formally, we found that the range, the average alcohol, was 0.18 per cent,” Dr Moran said.

“That ranged from 0.05 up to a quite staggering 0.49 per cent, so alcohol is definitely a factor.

“We did see a spike in patient presentations between 11pm and 4am, and that also correlated with alcohol usage as well.

“All of the patients who were admitted to hospital were intoxicated.

“One patient had severe intracranial bleed, so severe head injury, leading to bleeding inside the brain.

“That particular patient had an extended period of time in intensive care.

“We also had one patient who had an injury to their side of their spine.”

The study also found the total cost of inpatient admissions from e-scooter injuries, over eight months, cost NT Health more than $350,000.

Of all injuries during the study’s eight-month period, only three involved privately owned scooters.

While the study did not focus on whether ED patients were wearing helmets at the time of their accident, Dr Jamie Moran said they can have a big impact on the severity of injuries. Picture: Che Chorley

Despite the damning statistics, Neuron has defended the safety of its e-scooter service, which has been operating in the Top End for about three years.

“Over the eight-month period of the report, Neuron riders have completed over one million kilometres in Darwin and 99.99 per cent of our trips ended safely and without incident,” a spokesman said.

“While this number is comparatively low, we are always looking for ways to reduce risks further.”

The company has recently used Darwin as one of four guinea pigs in a global trial on new AI technology.

Its ‘e-scooter brain’ pilot saw e-scooters fitted with extra sensors to detect a range of dangerous rider behaviour including aggressive swerving, skidding, kerb jumping, tandem riding and sidewalk riding.

The technology also counteracts and corrects bad habits in real-time, while Neuron has been profiling users to “educate, correct and incentivise” good behaviour.

Neuron’s trial to operate in Darwin is set to end on November 27, with ball now in the NT government’s court to extend the trial or create legislation to facilitate their permanent use.

NT News understands the government has already extended the e-scooter company’s trial twice.

City of Darwin chief executive Simone Saunders said the council is working with the NT government on that legislation and would support changes to make them safer.

Neuron e-scooters are only allowed within Darwin city and as far north as Fannie Bay, while e-bikes are permitted to go out to most suburbs. Picture: Che Chorley

“We get enormous positive feedback in relation to scooters around the city,” Ms Saunders said.

“They’re a really, really popular alternative choice for moving around city of Darwin.

“Encouraging people to get out, whether it be on a scooter or using an e-bike, is really critical to moving people around our city and not having everybody driving cars.

“It’s only a small percentage of the thousands of users that are using them not in accordance with the user and rider conditions that are presenting at Royal Darwin Hospital.”

From November, Queensland will roll out a suite of new and increased penalities on e-scooters.

Under the changes riders will be fined $1078 for using their mobile while riding, while penalties for speeding and drink riding will increase.

There will also be a $143 fine for those caught riding without a helmet or tandem riding.

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Originally published as Darwin study finds e-scooters are leading to ‘catastrophic injuries’, pressure on health system