Aug 14, 2019   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

VOOM Survey: 80% of E-Scooter Riders Don't Wear Helmets

TEL AVIV, Israel and PALO ALTO, California, Aug. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a survey commissioned by VOOM, the world's first on-demand, telematics-based insurtech platform for specialized mobility, 80% of e-scooter riders claimed they do not wear a helmet consistently or at all. This, despite 40% of riders having been in an e-scooter accident or know someone who has, and a growing awareness surrounding the dangers of micro mobility.

E-scooter across the US are being reported at record-high rates. In Florida, Tampa General hospital reported a 500% increase in injuries over the last year; in Atlanta, two fatalities were reported this summer; in Chicago, at least ten accidents were reported during a six-day pilot program. As e-scooter accidents plague these cities and others around the world, many observers wonder if riders are taking adequate precautions to protect themselves.

According to the survey, the existence or lack of bike lanes poses a major security concern:

    --  Over 60% of respondents will ride e-scooters even if proper bike lanes
        are not in place, opting instead to ride on sidewalks or wherever they
        can.
    --  Over 30% of millennials (32%) are concerned about the lack of bike lanes
        available when riding, which is a bigger share than any other cohort.

"Recent injuries - and even fatalities - attributed to e-scooters have only exemplified the risks associated with these devices. While millennial riders may acknowledge these dangers, they continue to admit to riding recklessly and are not taking necessary precautions to prioritize their safety," said Tomer Kashi, CEO and Co-Founder of VOOM. "There is a dire need for effective solutions, whether that be better laws, increased awareness of self and public safety, or suitable insurance policies that fully cover riders and their surroundings."

The largest e-scooter companies in the US place the responsibility for accidents on the user alone as part of their rental agreements, a fact most scooter riders are unaware of. With many respondents admitting to unsafe habits, a significant number of riders express an interest in insurance policies to cover them in the event of an accident:

    --  62% of millennials are concerned about harming themselves or others when
        riding an e-scooter.
    --  46% percent of respondents chose personal accident coverage as most
        important when considering insurance coverage, followed by third party
        liability insurance, and lastly, the scooter itself.
    --  74% of respondents want a model of insurance that reflects the on-demand
        nature of e-scooters preferring pay-per-ride or monthly rather than
        annual insurance plans.

The survey, conducted in June 2019, was jointly carried out with Google Consumer Surveys based on a representative sample of more than 1,000 regular e-scooter riders from the United States, aged 18-65+.

About VOOM

VOOM is the world's first on-demand, telematics-based insurtech platform for specialized mobility products, dedicated to protecting users for everything they ride, fly, or sail. The company's first product, SkyWatch.AI, leverages the power of machine learning to assess and mitigate risks and provide on-demand insurance for thousands of drone pilots operating across the US and UK. VOOM's data-driven, usage-based insurance products include multiple high-risk, episodic-usage mobility verticals, including e-scooters, e-bikes, powersports, motor boats, and small planes. Headquartered in Tel Aviv with an office in Palo Alto, CA, VOOM is a licensed insurance broker in all 50 US states.

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SOURCE VOOM