An investigation by Charles Darwin University (CDU), NT Health, and the Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) found that electric scooter injuries in darwin cost the health system more than $350,000 over an eight-month period in 2021

24 patients require operative intervention resulting in electric scooter injuries.

According to a recent paper there was a significant injury toll with many patients experiencing head injuries and limb injuries, a significant number of whom needed to be admitted to hospital.

The paper was the result of a study into the impact on the Northern Territory health system, over an eight-month study period, since the introduction of the shared e-scooter scheme in Darwin City in January 2020.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) Lecturer in Psychology Dr Timothy Piatkowski says the study looked at emergency department presentation as a result of injuries sustained by people using e-scooters.

“There were 111 case presentations to Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional Hospital Emergency Departments at that time – 105 patients in total of which six patients represented as a result of their injuries.”

“About half of those attending the emergency department were intoxicated with the average alcohol level being 0.18 per cent of those tested. The highest was a staggering 0.49 per cent.”

“All those patients with injuries severe enough to stay at hospital were intoxicated.”  Dr Piatkowski said.

Emergency Medicine Specialist at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional Hospital Emergency Departments, Dr James Moran says there were correlations between intoxication and the severity of the injuries sustained.

“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,”

“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 James Moran said.

According to Dr Moran while there are potential benefits to using e-scooters, recognition of the health and financial impact of this shared service in the NT is important.

Harm minimisations strategies targeting implementation of alcohol testing and penalties for riders may be able to reduce the effect of the introduction of e-scooters on the health system in the NT.

Dr Piatkowski added, almost all those people who went to Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Hospital were on rented eScooters.

Dr Piatkowski and Dr Moran’s research continues in this space, where they wish to reduce the burden of harms to the community.

They will both continue to explore ways to change policy accordingly.

Meanwhile, the number of ICU submissions at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital trauma centre doubled from 24 to 49 this year, as a result of e-bike and e-scooter usage.