Children & Adolescence Injuries on the "New" Road with Electric Vehicles- COR (Children On Road) Study

Background: Road accidents are a major cause of trauma. In recent years, there has been a significant change in the nature of accidents in children, with the increasing use of electric light vehicles.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of road accidents and injuries among children on "the new road" and to compare between electrical and non-electrical light vehicles accidents.

Method: Retrospective study, analyzing all referrals to pediatric ED for road accidents in children (

Results: 1531 children were included, of these, 205 were pedestrians, 602 were motor vehicle occupants, 504 were light vehicles riders, 203 were light-electric vehicle riders and 17 were motorcycle riders.

Distinct differences between groups were found in the average age, and severity of injuries. While only 2% of motor vehicle occupants were injured moderate/severe, in the other groups higher rates were found, between 17.3% (non- electric light vehicle), until 35.3% (motorcycle).

Light-electric vehicle riders, when compared to non-electric light vehicle riders, were older, more likely to have multiple systemic injuries (58.6% Vs. 31.8%), had higher Injury Severity Scores) 5.8 Vs 4.7), and more head injuries (18.7% vs. 13.1%), Chest injuries (3.4% vs. 1%) and external injuries (76.3% vs. 65.9%) (P<0.05).

Conclusion: All of the unique characteristics of children and teenagers injured by electric bicycles: their age, the mechanism of the accidents, the characteristics and severity of the injuries, indicate that this is a new "player" that may be closer in nature to motorcycles and requires special attention.

There is room for increased awareness and education for safe riding, appropriate legislation and law enforcement. Further research is required in the field.