Sharing: Increase in Electric Scooter Accidents - 27 Deaths in Germany in 2024, What Should Japan Learn?

1. Introduction: Why Address It "Now"

Electric scooters have spread worldwide as a trump card for the "last mile," but in cities where their use has expanded ahead of infrastructure, rules, and driving etiquette, accidents and social costs have become apparent. The 2024 statistics from Germany provide insightful materials showing the latest scale and risk structure. As Japan begins to fully implement its revised system, there are lessons to be learned from overseas precedents on what should and shouldn't be done.Statistisches Bundesamt

2. What is Happening in Germany (Latest in 2024)
2-1. Expansion of Accident Scale

• Accidents with Human Injury: 11,944 cases (up 26.7% from the previous year)

• Fatalities: 27 people (22 people the previous year)

• 83.9% of the victims were the scooter users themselves (all 27 fatalities were users themselves)
  
  
  These are the figures published by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) on July 31, 2025.Statistisches Bundesamt

Media reports on the same day highlighted similar points (approximately 12,000 cases, 27 fatalities, about 84% of victims were users themselves). The age composition emphasized a strong involvement of younger age groups.Deutschlandfunk

2-2. Details of Accidents: Who, Where, and How They Are Injured

• Predominantly Young: 48.6% of victims are under 25, only 3.3% are 65 and over.

• Urban Concentration: 53.7% in large cities with populations over 100,000, 30.9% in cities over 500,000.

• Over 30% are single-vehicle accidents, with 14 out of 27 fatalities occurring in such accidents.

• In accidents involving cars, 50.5% of the injured were hurt in these incidents, with 7 fatalities.

• Main Violations/Factors: Incorrect road (sidewalk) use 21.2%, drunk driving 12.4%, inappropriate speed 8.0%, right-of-way violations 6.2% (based on police recognition).
  (All from the same Destatis announcement.)Statistisches Bundesamt

2-3. Patterns of "Severe Injury"

Analysis of emergency medical registries shows a high proportion of head and facial injuries, with severe accidents concentrated at night, on weekends, among males, and involving alcohol. Of 538 severe cases, 26 resulted in death, with over 80% requiring intensive care. The effectiveness of interventions like mandatory helmet use is suggested.TUM

Supplement: Even in 2023, accidents were concentrated in urban areas in Germany, with 22 fatalities. This expanded to 27 in 2024.ドイツの声Statistisches Bundesamt

3. Background Factors: Considering Three Layers of Behavior, Environment, and System

3-1. Behavioral Factors

• Sidewalk Riding and Traffic Division Errors: Cases where rules prohibiting sidewalk riding and prioritizing bicycle lanes are not followed are major causes.Statistisches Bundesamt
  
  

• Alcohol: The rate of alcohol use in E-scooters (12.4% police recognition) is higher than in bicycles (7.8%) or small motorcycles (5.9%).Statistisches Bundesamt
  
  

• Multiple Riders: Although originally limited to one rider, the trend of increased passengers is reflected in statistics.Statistisches Bundesamt

3-2. Environmental Factors

• Nighttime, Weekends, and Entertainment Hubs: Severe cases are concentrated at night and on weekends, suggesting a relationship with travel and gatherings in entertainment districts.TUM

• Concentration in Urban Areas: Higher ratios in large cities with high population density, intersections, and mixed traffic.Statistisches Bundesamt

3-3. System and Operational Factors

• Management by Share Operators: Interventions such as stopping service late at night, automatic speed control, and reaction tests are proposed by researchers.TUM
  
  

• Municipal Regulations: Various approaches are underway in European cities, such as bans, limits on numbers, parking management, and speed restrictions. The complete ban on rentals in Paris is a symbolic example.TNW | The heart of tech

4. Overview of International Trends

In the United States, injuries from micromobility (E-scooters, E-bikes, etc.) have been increasing since 2017. In 2022, there was a 21% increase compared to the previous year, with an expansion in emergency room responses.U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

5. Current Situation and Challenges in Japan

5-1. Key Points of the Legal System (From July 2023)

In Japan, from July 2023, the category of "specified small motorized bicycles" has been implemented, and vehicles meeting certain conditions are license-free, with rules such as a maximum speed of 20 km/h (6 km/h on sidewalks). Helmets are recommended, two-person riding is prohibited, and drunk driving is severely punished.警察庁警察庁

5-2. Accident and Violation Status

• One Year After System Implementation (Nationwide): 219 accidents, 226 injuries. There were 25,156 violations, with many involving traffic division violations and ignoring traffic signals.JAF Mate

• Trends in Tokyo (Introduction of Metropolitan Police Department Statistics): From July 2023 to December 2024, 423 cases, 436 injuries, and 1 fatality were reported (Tokyo figures).JAF交通安全トレーニング

• Involvement of Alcohol: In Japan, about 40% of single-vehicle accidents involve alcohol (Period: First half of 2024).毎日新聞
  
  

Reference: The annual report from the National Police Agency also organizes trends in the early stages of the system, such as 85 accidents involving specified small motorized bicycles (July to December 2023).警察庁

5-3. Implications for Japan

• Nighttime and Weekend Measures (Restrictions on late-night rentals, automatic speed restrictions in entertainment districts, UX for alcohol detection): Consistent with Germany's severe injury patterns.TUM

• Thorough Dissemination of Traffic Division (Re-education on prohibiting sidewalk riding, illustrating behavior at intersections): Directly linked to suppressing major violations.Statistisches Bundesamt

• Measures Against Single-Vehicle Accidents (Caution against road surfaces, steps, and wet pavements, inspection of safety equipment, and helmet recommendation): Preventing severe injuries.TUM

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