The rider pushes off the ground with the second foot to get moving and maintain momentum. Steering is controlled with the handlebars. A back brake pedal slows and stops the scooter s movement. As the popularity of scooters has increased, so have the number of injuries. More than half of these injuries occurred between September and mid-November.
Most injuries occur from falls, causing fractures and dislocations in the arms and hands.
Two scooter-related deaths were also reported. In the first case, an adult male died from a head injury after a fall from a scooter. In the second case, a six-year old boy riding a scooter was hit by a car. Experts with the Consumer Product Safety Commission say more than 60 percent of scooter injuries can be prevented or reduced in severity with proper safety equipment. Children should wear a safety-approved helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads.