E-scooter accident in Salzburg: Driver without a helmet collides with a car!

E-scooter accident in Salzburg: Driver without a helmet collides with a car!

On May 27, 2025, there was an unfortunate accident in Salzburg, in which a 38-year-old e-scooter driver crashed into a parking car. The incident occurred around 10:46 a.m. when the e-scooter driver was on the multi-purpose strip of Gabelsbergerstrasse towards Sterneckstrasse. In the collision with the passenger side of a 55-year-old car that comes from Upper Austria and was just about to park in a parking space, the e-scooter driver fell and injured his right arm. He was immediately supplied with the emergency services and emergency doctor at the scene of the accident and then transported to the UKH Salzburg for further treatment. It was striking that the e-scooter driver did not wear a bike helmet at the time of the accident. In the case of an alcomat test, the values were negative in both those involved in the accident, so that alcohol influence can be excluded as the cause of the accident.

e-scooter has been a popular means of transportation for public road traffic since their approval on June 15, 2019. Nevertheless, the risks when driving with e-scooters are often underestimated. According to sifa-sibe.de, the police have already recorded numerous accident reports. Among other things, there was a significant increase in e-scooter accidents with personal injury by 14.1 %in 2023, which corresponds to 9,425 accidents. It is particularly concerned that the number of fatalities doubled from 11 to 22 during this period. The most common causes of accidents are incorrect use of roads, alcohol at the wheel and clashes with other vehicles.

risk factors and causes of accidents

The statistics show that 83 % of the ancient e-scooter users themselves drove on the vehicles, and a large part of the accidents occurred in urban areas, especially in large cities with over 100,000 inhabitants. Many of the accidents could be avoided by simple safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet and driving on the appropriate streets or paths. In cities like Berlin, 74 accidents with 60 injuries have been registered since approval, which underlines the need for information and security campaigns.

The German statutory accident insurance (DGUV) pointed out as part of its “KommunmmiSch” prevention campaign that e-scooters are considered motor vehicles and that the same alcohol limit values are used as for drivers. No sidewalks may be driven on, and driving under alcohol is strictly prohibited, especially for drivers under the age of 21. In 2023, remarkable 41.6 % of those involved in e-scooter accidents were younger than 25 years old. A sufficient awareness of the applicable rules seems to be missing from many users.