The Clark County School District says the number of collisions between students and vehicles in school zones has declined so far this year compared to the same time last year. According to CCSDPD, there have been 43 e-scooter crashes and 14 e-bicycle crashes reported this school year. The district launched a traffic data dashboard and partnered with municipalities to improve safety in school zones after recording 432 student-vehicle collisions last school year.
Despite the drop in crashes, local emergency rooms are treating more serious injuries from e-bikes and e-scooters. John Pope, vice president of trauma at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, said they are seeing traumatic brain injuries and broken bones, with head injuries being the most devastating. He noted that 80% of these injuries could have been prevented with proper helmet use.
Sunrise Hospital’s trauma center saw a jump in e-bike-related injuries in September, rising from about 60–65 patients per month to 85 in September. As of September 30, there were 609 e-bike injuries treated this year, compared to 254 for all of last year—a 140% increase. Pope emphasized that riders often do not use protective gear suitable for the higher speeds of e-bikes and e-scooters.
CCSDPD Chief Jeff Clark urged drivers to put down their phones, slow down, and pay attention in school zones, noting that many students on e-bikes are not experienced riders. Henderson police have also increased enforcement, issuing citations and towing e-bikes that exceed 28 miles per hour.
Sources: 8 News Now
Original reporting: 8 News Now →
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