Two children seriously injured in tram accident in Berg am Laim!

Two children seriously injured in tram accident in Berg am Laim!

A serious accident occurred in Berg am Laim on Thursday evening, seriously injuring two twelve-year-old children. At around 8 p.m., the two boys were riding an e-scooter on the sidewalk on Else-Rosenfeld-Straße in the direction of Kreillerstraße. Tragically, a tram traveling into the city hit the children head-on while they were trying to cross the junction with Kreillerstrasse. The accident is currently being investigated by the traffic police.

The two injured people were immediately taken to special clinics: the e-scooter driver had to be taken by rescue helicopter to an accident clinic in Murnau, while his companion was taken to a Munich hospital. Both the children's mother and the tram driver received support from a crisis intervention team. The police closed the intersection for around an hour and a half to make the work of the emergency services easier and to clarify the cause of the accident.

E-scooters on the road

E-scooters have established themselves as an integral part of road traffic in Germany, as the situation in Munich clearly shows. However, there has also been a worrying increase in accidents resulting in personal injury in recent years, particularly among young people. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 41.6% of the e-scooter drivers involved in accidents were under 25 years old, while 80.4% were younger than 45 years old. A total of 9,425 e-scooter accidents resulting in personal injury were registered in 2023, an increase of 14.1% compared to the previous year. Unfortunately, there were 22 deaths, twice as many as in 2022, and 1,220 seriously injured.

• 41,6 % der E-Scooter-Unfallopfer waren unter 25 Jahre alt.
• 79,4 % der Verunglückten waren unter 45 Jahre.
• 9.425 E-Scooter-Unfälle wurden 2023 registriert.
• 22 Todesfälle, doppelt so viele wie im Vorjahr.
• 1.220 Menschen wurden schwer verletzt.

Despite these alarming statistics, e-scooter accidents only account for around 0.6% of all traffic accidents in Lower Saxony. Cycling accidents are significantly more common, with 446 cyclists losing their lives last year. Nevertheless, the authorities are paying attention to the increasing number of uses and associated accidents. One of the most common causes of accidents is incorrect use of the road and driving under the influence of alcohol.

A look at the accident statistics

An analysis of the causes of accidents shows that 66.3% of e-scooter accidents were caused by the riders themselves. Inappropriate speed and disregard for right-of-way are particularly common. Police have taken action in response to these developments and remain vigilant as e-scooter usage continues to skyrocket. In 2023, there were 6,115 accidents caused by collisions with other road users, and only a third of the accidents were solo accidents.

As the events in Berg am Laim show, it is essential to improve safety standards when dealing with e-scooters and to better inform both drivers and pedestrians of the dangers in road traffic. Safety should always come first.

The incident reminds us how important it is to act safely and responsibly on the roads. The future of e-scooter transport depends not only on its growing popularity, but also on the safety culture we develop when using these vehicles.