An electric scooter is an excellent and environmentally friendly vehicle. Likely, before you own one, you’ll want to ensure you are aware of all the accessories that can make your ride as safe as possible. In this article, we will cover the gear you will need and also give some safety tips.
Safety should always be your top priority when riding an electric scooter, here is a quick summary of our tips:
- Wear Proper Safety Gear: Always wear a certified helmet that fits properly. Helmets can significantly reduce the risk of head injuries. Protective eyewear, such as sunglasses or racing goggles, can protect your eyes from wind, debris, and insects.
- Use Lights: Ensure your scooter is equipped with sufficient lighting, including a front headlight, a rear light, and a brake-activated taillight. If you think the built-in lights aren’t enough, consider adding battery-powered LED lights to your scooter or helmet for better visibility.
- Wear Gloves: Gloves can protect your hands during a fall and keep them warm in cold weather, which can also help maintain a good grip on the handlebars.
- Use Audible Warning Devices: Bells or electronic horns can alert pedestrians, cyclists, and other riders of your presence. They are essential for safe riding in populated areas.
- Maintain Your Scooter: Regularly inspect your scooter to ensure it’s in good working condition. Check the tire pressure, confirm that the folding mechanism is properly locked, monitor the battery charge status, and test the brakes and lights before each ride. This simple checks can save you can significantly increase your safety on the road.
- Avoid One-Arm Riding: Keep both hands on the handlebars at all times. One-arm riding can lead to loss of control and is unsafe. Do not use your phone while riding your scooter.
- Practice Safe Riding Techniques: Acelerating and decelerate slowly. Reduce speed before making turns to minimize the risk of falling.
- Gain Experience: Before riding in traffic, spend time practicing in a safe, open space like an empty parking lot. Get comfortable with your scooter and master basic maneuvers.
- Know the Rules: Familiarize yourself with local rules and regulations regarding electric scooter use. Laws can vary greatly from one place to another, so it’s essential to understand what’s allowed in your city.
- Stay Alert: Always keep your eyes on the road and stay aware of your surroundings. Anticipate potential hazards and be ready to react.
Use Proper Safety Gear
In traffic, certain elements are beyond our control. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned electric scooter veteran, using proper safety gear is very important.
Helmet
Scooter helmets can save lives. According to the NHTSA, using a proper helmet can reduce head injuries by up to 85%. We recommend you get a full-face helmet, mountain bike or motorcycle helmets are perfect choices for electric scooter riders. Also, it is important to use a certified helmet (CPSC or DOT-FMVSS-218).
Lights
Ensure your electric scooter is equipped with sufficient built-in lights. You will need a front headlight, a rear light, and a taillight that activates when you are braking. If the built-in lights of your scooter are not enough, you can add some battery-powered LED lights to your vehicle or use brake-sensing helmet lights for better visibility in darker conditions.
Horn or Bell
The use of an audible warning device is essential. Most models from Segway and other good brands have a built-in bell or electronic horn. If your scooter does not have one you can always add one later on, they are very cheap and easy to mount devices. Remember, it’s really hard to be heard by car drivers using a scooter bell, but you can at least warn pedestrians, other scooter riders, and bicyclists about your presence to avoid unwanted situations.
Gloves
Gloves not only protect your hands during a fall but also keep them warm in cold weather. Extreme cold can cause numbness, making it difficult to grip the handlebars—a significant safety hazard.
Sunglasses or Racing Goggles
Protective eyewear, such as racing goggles or at the very least sunglasses, can effectively shield your eyes from the wind while riding your scooter. They also offer protection from flying insects and enhance visibility in bright light.
Check the Scooter Before Every Ride
Before every ride, inspect the tires to ensure they have enough pressure, confirm that the folding mechanism is properly locked, check the charge status, and verify the functionality of both the brakes and lights.
Slow Down Before Turning and Accelerate Slowly
Maintaining balance is easier at lower speeds. Therefore, slow down your scooter before making a turn to reduce the risk of falling. Additionally, ensure you accelerate and decelerate gradually and smoothly to maintain balance.
Keep Your Hands on the Handlebars and Your Eyes on the Road
This one is clear, one-arm riding is not safe at all. Always keep your both hands on the handlebars, in order to keep the front wheel straight you need both hands. Do not use your phone! Use a phone holder and a hands-free kit, and stop your scooter in a safe place to interact with your phone. Again, one-arm riding is not safe at all.
Follow Traffic Rules
To ride a scooter safely in traffic, you first need to be comfortable with your scooter and master basic driving maneuvers. You can gain experience by practicing in an empty parking lot. Before venturing into traffic, ensure you familiarize yourself with local rules and laws, as regulations for electric scooters can significantly vary from state to state.
Conclusion
Overall, for your safety when riding an electric scooter: wear proper safety gear, gain substantial experience before joining traffic, always keep your hands on the handlebars, maintain your focus on the road, and inspect your scooter for any issues before every ride.
For additional guides on e-scooter and helmet safety, you can refer to the following webpages:
