A Kiwi doctor is worried at the spike in electric scooter-related injuries he's seen in the past month, since the new transport was released in Auckland and Christchurch as part of a new service-sharing app.
Dr John Bonning said the wave of injuries, which have included fractures, lacerations and abrasions, broken teeth, head injuries and even collapsed lungs, needed addressing.
"Injuries are coming in fast and furious," Dr Bonning said.
"Our members are reporting a spike in accidents, several quite serious."
Dr Bonning said people need to appreciate e-scooters are not toys.
"They are capable of high speeds, and when ridden on footpaths where there are a high number of pedestrians, they can pose a serious issue to yourself and others.
"My message to the public is: before getting on one, put on a helmet, and importantly know what you are doing."
E-scooters have become particularly apparent in Auckland and Christchurch after San Francisco-based company Lime rolled out hundreds of the electric ride-on scooters on October 15.
But Dr Bonning said companies such as Lime have an obligation to ensure safety for both users and the general public is top priority.
"We have seen these shared electric scooters become very popular in a short amount of time since they have been introduced in Auckland and Christchurch.
"We anticipate this popularity will rise as they are introduced across the country, so we want to make sure our elected officials and representatives who are giving them the green light have thought about the regulation of the scooters, from a safety perspective."
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