Los Angeles Times NBC News KNX News Radio Scooter Dangers Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 15 August 2018 14:26 PM America/Los_Angeles Los Angeles Times NBC News KNX News Radio Scooter Dangers Electric scooters are popular, but can be dangerous. Photo by Getty Images. Reporters from the Los Angeles Times, NBC News and KNX News Radio recently interviewed one of Cedars-Sinai's top emergency medicine experts about the dangers posed by the trendy electric scooters for rent that are popping up in U.S. cities from coast to coast. Although the scooters can be a fun and inexpensive transportation alternative, Sam Torbati, MD, co-chair of the Harry and Ruth Roman Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai, has treated enough injured scooter riders to back up his belief that the scooters can pose dangers to the riders as well as pedestrians. Torbati said that he has seen an increase in injuries associated with drivers falling off the alternative transportation, particularly broken arms, legs, shoulders and hips, not to mention head injuries. Although one scooter company has distributed thousands of free helmets, most riders don't wear helmets and flout the traffic laws that prohibit a scooter driver from doubling up by hauling a second rider. Local ordinances also require scooter drivers to be at least 18 years old and stay off sidewalks. "This scooter is no different than a motorcycle scooter," Torbati told popular Los Angeles Times columnist Robin Abcarian. "As a physician, I am very concerned about the public safety issues around people who ride without protective gear. I get particularly concerned when I see people with ear buds, carrying things while riding, and riding on the sidewalks." Click here to watch the complete story that aired on NBC affiliates' local news broadcasts. Click here to listen to KNX News Radio's coverage of Los Angeles' scooter controversies. Click here to read Abcarian's complete column. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories From Guam With Heart February 07, 2022 06:00 AM America/Los_Angeles People in love often say two hearts beat as one, and the hearts of Tom and Therese Mazzei are definitely in sync. When 59-year-old Tom Mazzei traveled from Guam to the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai for treatment, Therese Mazzei, his wife of … Read more Show Your Love Nominate a Cedars-Sinai Nurse February 16, 2021 06:02 AM America/Los_Angeles Like every nurse at the Ruth and Harry Roman Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai, Hannah Jaruszewski, RN, is skilled at treating patients–from starting an IV and assisting during an emergency procedure to sending patients home with clear … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release Los Angeles Times NBC News KNX News Radio Scooter Dangers Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay: Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW: Want New Omicron Booster? Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home