St Vincent's e-bikes study reveals alarming road trauma trend

St Vincent's e-bikes study reveals alarming road trauma trend

28 Feb 2024

A research project led by St Vincent’s Emergency clinicians has found that more than 500 e-bike riders in the past two years, have wound up in Emergency rooms requiring critical care as a result of a road incident. 

St Vincent’s has treated 16 percent of these patients, the majority of which have presented past 8pm at night. 

The research concluded that most of these presentations were young males and almost 70 per cent were under the influence of alcohol - and not wearing a helmet. 

Anecdotally, these kinds of injuries often-times occur with people wanting to avoid driving a car after consuming alcohol, thereby evading penalties and potential risk of a motor vehicle accident - but road collisions for cyclists can be just as devastating. 

In response to this concerning trend, St Vincent’s frontliners and surgeons are now advocating for better regulation from e-bike companies, local councils and the state government.

"E-bikes shouldn't be the first option when you walk out of a pub." 

"There is potential to limit use of these bikes in the later hours when riders are potentially under the influence of alcohol, and it’s harder for other road vehicles to see them”, Dr Elan Novis said.

Other possible interventions include anti drink-riding tests, successfully trialled in London over the recent Christmas party season, requiring riders to pass an accuracy test within the e-bike vendors’ app before they can rent the vehicle. 

Elan will present this research this weekend at the SWAN International Trauma Conference in Sydney. https://swanconference.com/