Understanding nonuse of mandatory e-scooter helmets.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Transportation Safety
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• E-scooter use is increasing, leading to concerns about head injuries.
• Helmet use is mandatory in Australia, yet noncompliance is observed, especially with shared e-scooters.
• Understanding the reasons behind helmet nonuse is crucial for effective safety interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether e-scooter helmet nonuse in a mandatory setting is consistent or situational.
• To identify factors associated with helmet nonuse among adult e-scooter riders.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was conducted with 360 adult e-scooter riders in Canberra, Australia (2022-2023).
• Data collected included helmet use patterns, rider characteristics, trip details, and perceptions of helmet laws.
• Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were used to identify predictors of helmet nonuse.

Main Results:

• Nearly 30% of riders reported not wearing a helmet in the last 30 days; most of these instances were situational.
• Younger age, shared e-scooter use, and riding frequency were associated with nonuse in bivariate analysis.
• Logistic regression identified risky riding behaviors, lack of legal knowledge, and lack of support for the law as independent predictors of helmet nonuse.

Conclusions:

• E-scooter helmet nonuse in mandatory contexts is predominantly situational rather than habitual.
• Factors linked to e-scooter helmet nonuse mirror those found in bicycle helmet nonuse studies.
• Helmet nonuse appears to be part of a broader pattern of risky riding behaviors, not solely related to helmet-specific issues.