The number of accidents with electric scooters in Belgium rose by 9% last year, according to figures published by the Vias road safety institute.
The number of accidents with injuries in traffic fell by 3% in 2024 compared to 2023. In total, the police registered 35,540 accidents with fatalities or injuries. This amounts to an average of around 100 accidents per day. The number of injuries fell by 3% compared to 2023.
"A few years ago, accidents with electric scooters occurred almost exclusively in Brussels," said Stef Willems of Vias. "We are currently seeing more electric scooters on the streets throughout the country."
Most e-scooter accidents currently occur in Flanders, and Vias has recorded a 10% increase in the number of accidents there compared to 2023: from 851 to 937. Three people died on the spot.
Rules not always respected
The number of road deaths stagnated: there were 363 road deaths on the spot last year compared to 358 in 2023. According to Vias, this is a provisional balance that only takes into account people who died at the scene. The victims who died up to 30 days after their accident must be added to this.
In 2024, the police recorded 1,745 accidents with an electric scooter. That is an increase of 9% compared to 2023 (1,608 accidents). According to Vias, the actual number of accidents with injuries is even higher, because after a fall without an opposing party, the police are not necessarily called to make a report.
In July 2022, new rules for electric scooters came into force. "We have noticed that they are not always correctly respected," Willems said. "It is essential that these rules are better observed. This requires additional awareness-raising and checks."
