Injuries from electric scooter accidents in Darwin cost the medical system more than $350,000 over the past eight months, with booze a significant contributing factor, a study has found.
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The study revealed many patients experienced head and limb injuries from riding e-scooters, while a significant number required hospital admission.
It found 24 patients needed surgery.
The study by Charles Darwin University, in collaboration with NT health and the Royal Darwin Hospital, followed the introduction of a shared e-scooter scheme in Darwin in January 2020.
It found that about half of the patients who presented to hospital with injuries were intoxicated while all those admitted for treatment were drunk.
"Alcohol consumption is a significant issue in the NT and, according to the present data, may require further investigation when considered in conjunction with e-scooter services in the Top End," lead author and emergency medicine specialist James Moran said.
"The current data is supportive of the link between intoxication while riding scooters and increased injury severity which has also been described by similar studies in Australia and overseas."
Dr Moran said while there were potential benefits to using e-scooters, recognition of the health and financial impacts was also important.
Harm minimisation strategies targeting alcohol testing and penalties for riders might reduce the impact e-scooters were having on the health system, he said.
Australian Associated Press
