Tragic accident in Frankfurt: Two e-scooter drivers die!

Tragic accident in Frankfurt: Two e-scooter drivers die!

On the night of Saturday to Sunday there was a tragic traffic accident in the Gallus district of Frankfurt in which two young men lost their lives. The incident occurred around 2:35 a.m. on Mainzer Landstrasse, in the immediate vicinity of Ludwigstrasse. The accident involved two e-scooters with a total of three people. [faz.net]. One of the twin brothers' e-scooter collided.

The two twin brothers, both 23 years old, were riding an e-scooter. One of them died at the scene of the accident, while the other later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Another e-scooter rider, a 27-year-old man, was seriously injured and taken to hospital. Luckily, a 24-year-old woman who was on a third e-scooter only suffered shock as she was not directly involved in the accident. During the collision, one of the e-scooter riders was dragged several meters.

Course of the accident and its aftermath

The alleged perpetrator initially fled the scene of the accident, but returned on foot while the accident was being recorded and turned himself in to the authorities. His vehicle was found and seized approximately three kilometers from the scene of the accident. The investigation into the exact cause of the accident is still ongoing and an expert has been commissioned to clarify the exact circumstances. The Mainzer Landstrasse had to be completely closed at times, which led to serious traffic delays. hessenschau.de

This tragedy fits into a worrying trend that has been observed in Germany for several years. In 2023, the number of e-scooter accidents resulting in personal injury increased by 14%, increasing to 9,425 accidents. What is particularly alarming is that the number of deaths in e-scooter accidents virtually doubled from 11 in 2022 to 22 in 2023. destatis.de However, e-scooters only account for a small proportion of accidents, but the most common causes of accidents are incorrect road use and the influence of alcohol.

A look at e-scooter safety

Statistics show that around 41.6% of e-scooter riders involved in accidents are under 25 years old, while 80.4% of those affected are under 45 years old. A particularly concerning trend is the frequency of motor vehicle collisions, with 48% of e-scooter riders injured. E-scooters have been subject to insurance since they were registered on the road in Germany in June 2019 and their use requires that the drivers are at least 14 years old and do not consume alcohol under certain conditions.

How much more needs to be done to ensure greater safety for e-scooter users? Such questions will now be on the minds of many citizens, especially after an incident as shocking as this one.