Increase in moped injuries requiring emergency care

doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2016.07.052

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

Volume 34, Issue 10, October 2016, Pages 2000-2002

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2016.07.052 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

There has been a marked increased in moped use over the past few years. In addition, there has been an increase in moped-related injuries presenting to the emergency department (ED). The objective of this study is to characterize moped-related injuries presenting to US EDs and obtain national estimates of moped injury incidence over time.

Methods

Data regarding moped injuries were queried from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from calendar year 2007 to 2015. Data included diagnosis, body part injured, ED disposition, and patient demographics.

Results

There were an estimated 114 729 moped-related injuries treated in US EDs from 2007 to 2015 (95% confidence interval, 102 156-127 302). In addition, there was an increase in the number of moped injuries annually (B = 762.1, P < .01). The average number of moped injuries yearly was 12 748. The mean age was 34 years. Patients between ages 19 and 38 years represented 42% of the study population. Men (74%) and whites (55%) accounted for most of the injured population. Most injuries were stabilized in the ED and discharged home (85%). Approximately 9% of injuries were admitted to the hospital, and fractures constituted 59% of all diagnoses admitted to the hospital. Contusions (27%) and fractures (24%) accounted for most diagnoses. The most common body part injured was the head (16%).

Conclusions

Moped injuries have increased since 2007 and mopeds are associated with severe injuries. Education and reexamination of current moped laws may decrease the number and severity of moped-related injuries.

Introduction

In the United States, mopeds, defined as 2-wheeled motorized vehicles with an automatic transmission and an engine displacement of less than 50 cc, are becoming a popular mode of transportation, with sales increasing by up to 60% [1], [2]. Several studies have acknowledged the inherent risk of injury associated with mopeds [3], [4], [5]. In South Carolina, the number of moped fatalities has increased yearly from calendar year 2007 to 2011 [3]. Studies have also demonstrated that alcohol is associated with significantly more moped-related accidents compared with other motor vehicle accidents [4], [5].

Although mopeds have become more popular in recent years, most research dates back to the late 1980s and it is unclear if these data represent current national trends and characteristics of moped-related injuries. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database contains a wealth of information regarding moped injuries presenting to US emergency departments (EDs) across the nation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of moped-related injuries presenting to the ED by using a national database. This study also aims to explore the implications of these findings, which will help guide injury prevention efforts.

Section snippets

Methods

The NEISS database is a stratified sample of approximately 100 EDs in the United States and its territories which operate 24 hours a day and have at least 6 beds. The Consumer Product Safety Commission monitors injuries in these US hospital EDs using the NEISS database. The NEISS database was established in 1972 and has undergone revisions in its sampling frame in calendar years 1978 and 1990. Participating US hospital EDs submit data from their electronic medical records to the NEISS database.

Results

From calendar years 2007 to 2015, there were 114 729 injuries attributable to mopeds (95% CI, 102 156-127 302). The number of moped-related injuries by year is shown in Fig. 1. A linear model of the total number of moped-related injuries regressed on year yielded a slope B = 762.1 (P < .01).

The average number of moped injuries annually was 12 748. The mean age was 34 years (median, 30; range, 85). Patients between the ages of 19 and 38 years represented approximately 42% of the study population

Discussion

Previous studies that have investigated moped injuries date back to the 1970s and 1980s and used small, local hospital data sets [1], [9]. It is unclear if these data represent current national trends and characteristics of moped-related injuries. This study is the first study to investigate the epidemiology of moped-related injuries using nationally representative data.

In this study, there was a statistically significant increase in the annual number of moped injuries from calendar years 2007

Conclusions

Moped injuries have increased in recent years and are a source of serious injury. Further research is warranted to evaluate specific interventions to reduce the number and severity of moped injuries.

References (13)

BrintzenhoffRA et al.
Mopeds: the legal loophole for repeat driving while intoxicated offenders
Am J Surg
(2011)
ParkerJF et al.
Unpowered scooter injuries reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission: 1995-2001
Am J Emerg Med
(2004)
McHughTP et al.
Moped injuries
Ann Emerg Med
(1984)
CaetanoR et al.
Driving under the influence (DUI) among U.S. ethnic groups
Accid Anal Prev
(2005)
KosolaS et al.
Driver's education may reduce annual incidence and severity of moped and scooter accidents. A population-based study
Injury
(2016)
MigginsM et al.
Mopeds and scooters: crash outcomes in a high traffic state
J Trauma
(2011)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (6)

The role of public policy in reducing moped and scooter injuries in South Carolina
2024, Injury
Mopeds and electric scooters have grown in popularity in recent years. A South Carolina (SC) law was passed on November 19, 2018, aimed to regulate mopeds and scooters. This study aims to evaluate whether this SC law was associated with a decrease in the moped injury rate in a Level 1 Trauma Center.
A retrospective review of trauma registry data was used to identify a cohort of patients 14 years and older who came to a Level 1 trauma center for a moped/scooter accident between January 2014 - December 2022. The proportion of moped injuries before and after the passing of the law was calculated. The chi-square test and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test were used to compare differences in proportions for categorical factors and continuous factors, respectively.
A total of 350 moped injury cases were identified. There was a significant decrease in the moped injury rate after the passing of the 2018 SC law (0.9 % vs 1.8 %, p<0.001). Additionally, those treated post-law implementation were significantly older (47.4 vs 43.2 years, p = 0.013) and more likely to be male (95.5 % vs 87.9 %, p = 0.025) than those treated pre-law. Patients treated post-law were significantly more likely to be uninsured (45.1 % vs 42.7 %, p = 0.009) and less likely to have commercial (16.2 % vs 20.1 %, p = 0.009), or government (29.7 % vs 35.6 %, p = 0.009) health insurance compared to those treated pre-law. There was no significant difference between the two groups in Glascow Coma Scale, Injury severity score, Trauma Injury Severity Score, or rate of fatalities.
After the implementation of a SC law, we found that the local proportion of injuries due to moped and scooter accidents was significantly lower than pre-law proportions. These findings suggest that public policies aimed at increasing regulations for mopeds may decrease the rate of injury, but not severity, from moped use.
Understanding patterns of moped and seated motor scooter (50 cc or less) involved fatal crashes using cluster correspondence analysis
2023, Transportmetrica A: Transport Science
Moped and seated motor scooter (50 ccs or less) riders have a relatively high risk of becoming crash casualties. Comparison between 2015 and 2019 fatal crash data indicates that fatal moped crashes have increased by 76%, whereas fatal motorcycle crashes have decreased by 2%. This study collected moped and seated motor scooter-related fatal crash data for five years (2015–2019) from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to perform the analysis. Using an innovative categorical data analysis method known as cluster correspondence analysis (CCA), this study identified some critical clusters with a group of co-occurring variable categories. The contextual understanding of fatal crash patterns could guide authorities in developing data-driven interventions and countermeasures aiming to minimize moped collisions and related fatalities. The findings of this study can provide a better understanding of the patterns of contributing factors in moped and seated motor scooter fatal crashes.
State helmet laws and helmet use among fatally injured moped riders in the United States, 2011–2015
2018, Traffic Injury Prevention
Objective: Research has found that mandatory motorcycle helmet laws increase helmet use and reduce motorcycle-related fatalities. However, the association between state moped helmet laws and helmet use in the United States has not been examined. This study investigated this association among a census of fatally injured moped riders in the United States.
Methods: A logistic regression model was constructed to analyze data extracted from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to examine risk factors for helmet nonuse among 572 moped riders fatally injured between 2011 and 2015.
Results: Fatally injured moped riders in states with universal helmet laws had 69 times the odds of wearing a helmet (P < .001).
Conclusions: Findings suggest that universal moped helmet laws increase helmet use. However, additional research is needed to examine helmet laws and use among nonfatally injured moped riders.
The Role of Public Policy in Reducing Moped and Scooter Injuries in South Carolina
2023, SSRN
Adult moped-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments
2019, Traffic Injury Prevention
Moped collisions: Low speed and high impact-a single-center review
2017, American Surgeon

^☆: Meetings: This study was presented at the 2015 SAEM annual national conference in San Diego, CA, on May 13th, 2015.

^☆☆: Funding source: None.

^★: Financial disclosures: All authors have no financial disclosures relevant to this article to disclose.

^★★: Conflicts of interest: All authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose.

View full text

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Brief ReportIncrease in moped injuries requiring emergency care☆,☆☆,★,★★

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

Section snippets

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Am J Surg

Am J Emerg Med

Ann Emerg Med

Accid Anal Prev

Injury

Mopeds and scooters: crash outcomes in a high traffic state

J Trauma

Brief Report
Increase in moped injuries requiring emergency care☆,☆☆,★,★★