Police Officers Increase Attention to Traffic Violations
Because of concerns about the mounting numbers of accidents involving electric scooters, the Santa Monica police department has taken steps to enhance monitoring of e-scooters. The programs targets drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians and e-scooter riders. The increased surveillance of e-scooter operators began on Friday, May 10, 2019.
According to officials from the SMPD, law enforcement officers targeted e-scooter operators between 6 pm and 8 pm that night, citing riders for a range of traffic violations, including excessive speed, failure to yield to the right of way of pedestrians, failure to stop at a red light or stop sign, and making illegal turns. Officers were also instructed to ticket e-scooter operators who were driving on the wrong side of the road or on the sidewalk. Officials say e-scooter riders are required to travel in designated bike lanes and must obey all traffic laws, signs and signals.
A recent study in Southern California found that, over a twelve-month-period starting in September, 2017, 249 people made emergency room visits to two Los Angeles hospitals because of injuries sustained while riding an e-scooter. The majority of victims were scooter operators who fell while on the bike (more than 90%). Less than 5% of the victims reported wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The range of injuries included broken bones, lacerations, contusions and dislocations. Two victims ended up in the intensive care unit.
Contact the Experienced Attorneys at Weber & Nierenberg
At Weber & Nierenberg, we bring more than 35 years of experience to injured people in California, including individuals injured in scooter or motorcycle accidents. We’ll listen carefully to learn the specific details of your accident, as well as your needs and concerns, so that we can take the right steps to get the results you seek. Contact us by e-mail or call our office at 1-866-288-6010 for a free initial consultation.
Leave a Reply