Shock in Echterdingen: 13-year-old hit by car and seriously injured!

Shock in Echterdingen: 13-year-old hit by car and seriously injured!

On Monday evening there was an unfortunate accident in Echterdingen, in the Esslingen district, in which a 13-year-old student was injured. The incident happened around 6:30 p.m. on Friedrich-List-Straße when the girl wanted to cross a pedestrian crossing with her e-scooter and was hit by a Fiat driven by a 45-year-old woman. According to reports, the 13-year-old was previously driving on the sidewalk towards the center of town and crossed the pedestrian crossing without stopping or paying attention to traffic. The emergency services immediately took her to a clinic, although the severity of her injuries remains unclear.

The accident is part of a worrying trend, as the number of e-scooter accidents resulting in personal injury increased by 14.1% in 2023 compared to the previous year. According to the Federal Statistical Office, there were a total of 9,425 accidents involving e-scooters this year - a worrying number that also led to a doubling of fatalities, from eleven to 22. Young people in particular are affected: 41.6% of the e-scooter drivers involved in accidents were under 25 years old. And the picture becomes even clearer when you consider that 83.0% of those who had an accident were on the e-scooter themselves, including most of those who had a tragic accident.

The most common causes of accidents

The most common causes of such accidents are incorrect road use, at 19.4%, and the influence of alcohol, which played a role in 15.1% of cases. As a study by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) shows, e-scooters are often involved in accidents that lead to serious injuries. It is particularly mentioned that accidents often occur on weekends or at night and that those involved in the accident were often intoxicated. This study documented serious e-scooter accidents since 2020 and found that more than 80% of those injured required intensive medical care.

A safety problem in traffic

Another striking detail of the study is the fact that the most common injuries in e-scooter accidents are head and facial injuries. The need to improve road safety is becoming increasingly urgent, especially as the number of e-scooter accidents continues to rise in major cities. A long-term approach would mean that drivers of e-scooters, which are often viewed as slightly less dangerous, also have to act responsibly and carefully on the roads.

With this perspective on the traffic situation and recent events in Echterdingen, it is clear that both the legal framework and the behavior of users require a thorough examination in order to avoid as many accidents as possible and ensure safety on our roads. It remains to be hoped that the injured 13-year-old's condition will improve soon and she can fully recover.

Read more about this on Krzbb, or get started with the detailed statistics Destatis as well as the investigation of TUM apart.