'Drunk riding' behind almost half of fatal electric scooter crashes in Sweden

by Chalmers University of Technology

edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

Sadie Harley

Scientific Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process

Andrew Zinin

Chief Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

proofread

The GIST Add as preferred source

In almost half of all fatal electric scooter crashes in Sweden, the rider has been under the influence of alcohol. These fatal crashes occur mainly in the evenings or at night, and in all cases, no helmet was worn. This is shown by a new study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the Swedish Transport Administration. The study also states that most fatal crashes occur with private electric scooters, rather than rentals.

The researchers analyzed all fatal crashes involving electric scooters, electric bicycles and conventional bicycles in Sweden between 2016 and 2024. The paper is published in the Journal of Safety Research.

Alcohol is often a factor in fatal crashes involving all three of these vehicle types—but the figures for electric scooters stand out. Of the fatal e-scooter crashes, 44% of the riders were under the influence of alcohol, compared with 27% of e-bike riders and 13% of cyclists.

More specifically, blood alcohol levels were shown to be high across all three groups. Of the e-scooter riders who were under the influence of alcohol, the median blood alcohol content was 1.8 per mille. This can be compared with the legal limit of alcohol content in the blood for driving a car in Sweden, which is 0.2 per mille, above which it is considered drunk driving, and 1.0 per mille, which is considered aggravated drunk driving.

"Alcohol intoxication is a common issue among all road users, but it appears to be particularly severe among riders of electric scooters. Not only were many fatally injured e-scooter riders intoxicated, but their levels of intoxication were also extremely high," says Marco Dozza, professor of active safety and road user behavior at Chalmers University of Technology, and senior researcher in the study.

Lack of helmets among those killed

The study also showed that helmet use in fatal crashes was very low. Of those fatally injured while riding an e-scooter, none were wearing a helmet. Among those killed while riding an e-bike or a bicycle, only about 25% were wearing a helmet.

Head injuries were the most common cause of death in all groups.

"The numbers speak for themselves. Since the head is the area of the body most affected by fatal injury and almost no one wears a helmet, we have a clear opportunity to save lives. A helmet is not a guarantee but improves the chances dramatically, so we should do everything we can to encourage helmet use," says Rahul Rajendra Pai, doctoral student at Chalmers and first author of the study.

"I think many people don't understand the danger of using an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol, and think that the vehicle doesn't go that fast," says Dozza. "But hitting a stone on the road or a small hole in the ground is enough to lose balance, especially when intoxicated, because alcohol slows down cognition and reactions. If you don't wear a helmet, it may end up even worse."

Different crash patterns for different vehicles

The study included 204 deaths, and the researchers saw clear differences among the three vehicle types in terms of rider and crash patterns.

In fatal crashes involving ordinary bicycles, the median age of the cyclist was 71 years old. The crashes often occurred on weekdays and usually involved collisions with motor vehicles.

Fatal e-scooter crashes looked different. The riders had a median age of 47.5 years old, and most of the crashes were single-vehicle crashes that occurred on weekends, in the evenings and at night.

According to the researchers, the results indicate the need for measures and regulations tailored to the different types of vehicles.

"The typical fatal bicycle crash, with an elderly cyclist being hit by a motor vehicle in daylight, may require completely different countermeasures than the typical fatal electric scooter crash, where a younger rider crashes alone at night while intoxicated," says Dozza.

Fatal crashes most common with private electric scooters

Almost nine out of 10 alcohol-related e-scooter deaths occurred with privately owned vehicles. Public debate and regulations have largely focused on rented electric scooters, and operators have introduced measures such as speed limits and night restrictions. However, these measures do not affect privately owned electric scooters.

According to the researchers, rules and measures can, to some extent, counteract crashes involving electric scooters. Marco Dozza, for example, is leading an ongoing study on how today's sensor technology in rented electric scooters can make it possible to detect impaired riding ability in real time.

"If a vehicle can identify that its rider is not in control, it is possible to take various measures before a crash occurs. That kind of intelligent intervention can save lives, and is within reach," he says.

At the same time, he emphasizes that neither rules nor sensor technology alone can solve the problem.

"The big challenge with electric scooter riding is social norms and rider behavior, and this does not disappear with regulations. Training is an important key to understanding how the vehicle should be handled and what you can and cannot do."

Rikard Fredriksson, senior adviser on vehicle safety at the Swedish Transport Administration and co-author of the study, agrees. "Alcohol is still a major problem for road safety in Sweden. Alcohol is involved in about 20% of all fatal road crashes. This study shows that the number of alcohol-related fatalities involving electric scooters is more than twice as high, at 44%.

"We are committed to the development of technology to counteract electric scooter driving under the influence of alcohol. It is also important to always wear a helmet, and to use only a vehicle that cannot exceed legal speed," he says.

More information

Rahul Rajendra Pai et al, Three modes, three profiles: Characterizing fatal crashes on e-scooters, e-bikes, and conventional bicycles in Sweden, Journal of Safety Research (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2026.05.001

Key medical concepts

Alcoholic IntoxicationHead Injuries

Clinical categories

Preventive medicineCommon illnesses & Prevention Provided by Chalmers University of Technology Who's behind this story?

Sadie Harley

BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

Citation: 'Drunk riding' behind almost half of fatal electric scooter crashes in Sweden (2026, July 2) retrieved 2 July 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-drunk-fatal-electric-scooter-sweden.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.