E-scooter riders are risking life and limb by failing to wear protective helmets, road safety campaigners said.
Experts urged owners and renters to ensure they wear protection as the devices rise in popularity.
Rental firms have sprung up as part of a trial in Abu Dhabi, while private ownership is on the rise in Dubai — but helmets are seldom worn.
The lack of specific helmet regulations could mean that accidents result in more serious injuries.
While there are no specific regulations for e-scooters yet, one must at least ride with their own safety in mind
This month an e-scooter rider was injured when she collided with a taxi in Al Quoz. Witnesses said the rider was not wearing a helmet and was left bloodied by the crash.
Last month, a Journal of the American Medical Association study revealed nearly 40,000 broken bones, head injuries, cuts and bruises resulting from scooter accidents were treated in US emergency rooms from 2014 through 2018. The scooter injury rate climbed from 6 per 100,000 to 19 per 100,000 in the US.
“I already know of three accidents involving scooter riders in Dubai and it’s only going to get worse unless people are more careful," said Saleh Jafer, president of the Gulf for Yasa road safety group.
“The use of two-wheeled vehicles is becoming more popular across the country but if users continue to be reckless then somebody could be killed."
An ER doctor from Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Hospital said they were treating several patients a week who had received injuries from falling off e-scooters.
"It's mostly male teenagers we are treating," said Dr Magdi Mohamed.
"It is predominantly minor injuries like sprains, fractures and wounds.
"More often than not they don't wear helmets."
He said it was only luck that had prevented anyone from suffering a serious brain injury.
"Last week I treated an 11-year-old boy who had been hit by a car and broke his arm when he was on a scooter," he said.
"Thankfully the car was only travelling at a low speed but if it had been going faster it could have been a very different story."
Some residential communities in Dubai have spoken against the use of e-scooters. An owners’ association in Motor City has already banned riders while Expo 2020 chiefs will not allow their use during the six-month world fair.
Last year, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority banned rental companies from operating, but officials and police have not taken action against private owners as long as they ride responsibly.
The authority said it is working on regulations governing the stand-up rides.
Mr Jafer also said the city needs signs to stipulate where e-scooters can be used.
“It’s no different than a notice informing people if an area is out of bounds to dogs or bicycles," he said.
in Abu Dhabi, rental firms argue that helmets are not essential and that the devices, used on pedestrianised streets such as the Corniche, pose little risk if ridden sensibly.
“With every mode of transport, there are certain guidelines to observe," said Arnab Ghosh, head of business development for KiwiRide, a rental company in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. He said the Al Quoz accident would not have played out much differently if the injured rider had been on foot or on a bicycle.
“While there are no specific regulations for e-scooters yet, one must at least ride with their own safety in mind.
“Crossing the road at undesignated points is not an option for anyone, at any time. For people doing so on foot, there is a fine for jaywalking."
Jaideep Dhanoa, chief executive of rental firm Circ, which opened in Abu Dhabi last year, said "riding a scooter is just as safe as riding a bicycle."
E-scooter companies believe micromobility will catch up in the UAE in the coming years.
“We believe by 2022 it will be fully integrated into the lives of people across the UAE,” said Mahmoud Habboub, director of smart mobility at ride-hailing firm Careem.
One such change was the recent announcement by the RTA that parts of Dubai would be redesigned to encourage more people to use bicycles.
The company is expected to launch rental bikes across Dubai in the coming days.
The first phase of the “soft mobility” master plan was due to be completed in March in Karama, Mankhool and Al Qusais districts.
“The UAE is making serious investments in its infrastructure as can be seen from soft mobility initiative in Dubai and Ghadan 21 in Abu Dhabi.”
“Safe streets and new bike paths means the UAE is leapfrogging towards a developed infrastructure,” he said.
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
More coverage from the Future Forum
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
ELECTION%20RESULTS
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Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
