Electric Scooter Safety Features: What You Should Look For

Close-up shot of electric scooter tires and deck

A common question that we get asked at Raine is – are electric scooters safe?

The answer is: yes.

But only if they’re well-made, have the right safety features, are well-maintained and the person is riding it safely.

Accidents can happen on any vehicle, and with electric scooter popularity on the rise, it’s inevitable that the number of road accidents involving electric scooters will increase. 

So if you want to keep yourself as safe as possible while you’re out on the road, we’ve put together this useful article on:

-   The best electric scooter safety features

-   How to avoid injuring yourself on an electric scooter

Electric scooter safety features

Electric scooter brakes

Lots of people look for a fast electric scooter because they want a light electric vehicle that’s going to get them from A to B quickly and efficiently. Since you’re zipping around at high speed, it’s important to have good brakes should you need to stop suddenly, such as a car door opening in your path or traffic lights changing red.

Every electric scooter model has different brakes. The Raine One e-scooter has both front and rear brakes. At the front is a friction disc brake with a floating front calliper. That means when you brake, the calliper automatically starts to shift and grip the disc. This happens slowly though to avoid locking the front wheel allowing the rider to brake smoothly. This is similar to motorcycle brakes and high-performing car brakes.

At the back is regenerative anti-lock braking (ABS) and a separate friction brake. It’s regenerative because when the rider brakes, the energy goes back into the battery which gives a slightly longer charge and range. The ABS is done with a wheel rotation sensor and knows if the wheel is locked to release it. For example, if you went over a puddle and the wheel locked, it would be released within less than a second because of the ABS.

Electric scooter tires and traction

Tires are also a very important safety feature because they can help the rider brake faster and provide better stability. Grip, roadholding and pattern are important. The Raine One electric scooter has air filled tires with good-quality rubber so that they don’t wear down quickly and are reliable when braking, so the rider can stop in time.

Traction control is another feature of the Raine One. The wheel sensing technology that is used in ABS, is also able to prevent the wheel from spinning while accelerating, which means better safety and control for the rider.

Electric scooter throttle

We mostly think of throttles when it comes to accelerating but they’re also important when it comes to safety. The team at Raine wanted the Raine One electric scooter to have a throttle that can be comparable to a performance motorcycle or car, so we used a fly by wire throttle.

This type of throttle means when a rider requests a certain amount of power, the system allows them to get the targeted performance instantly, or it might happen slowly depending on which performance mode you’re in.

For example, if you were on certain terrain where you didn’t want to accelerate instantly, you can use the softer mode to slowly increase speed. This makes it easier and safer for different riding conditions.

Electric scooter indicators

Indicating that you are going to turn right or left is difficult on a bike or an electric scooter. While you can throw your arm out to indicate that you’re going to turn ahead, other vehicles may miss seeing this or you can unbalance yourself. The Raine One electric scooter has a left and right indicator that you can turn on when needed. As well as indicators, it also has a horn.

Electric scooter lights

Lights are not only useful when it’s dark but also in bad weather. Having good lights is an essential safety feature for any electric scooter. The Raine One has a powerful headlight, side wheel lighting and rear brake lighting to make sure other vehicles can see you on the road. You can also use the control panel located on the handlebars to adjust the lighting.

How to avoid injuries on your electric scooter

Never take your eyes off the road

This may seem obvious, but how many road accidents have you heard happen because someone wasn’t paying attention? Always be aware of your surroundings and that includes other vehicles, keep your eyes peeled for what is coming up ahead and what’s behind you. While it’s tempting to check out what’s happening on the side of the road, if you’re getting distracted then pull over and stop.

Remember that other vehicles on the road are much more powerful than yours, which is why it’s even more important to pay attention.

Know your scooter

If it’s the first time that you’ve ridden your electric scooter, then you should test it out in an empty car park first. Get to know all the features of your e-scooter before you take it out on the road. Develop good habits and practice braking. Even if you know how to ride an electric scooter, it’s still a good idea to become acquainted with a different model.

Wear a helmet

While it’s not compulsory to wear a helmet in every country, you’d be silly not to when you’re travelling at high speeds on an electric scooter. A bicycle helmet will do the trick, but you want extra protection, moped helmets are quite popular for electric scooter riders because they are more durable and heavier duty. An open face helmet will also cover the sides of your face and the back of your neck. Check out our electric scooter helmet article for more information.

Be careful in wet weather

You can ride your electric scooter in the rain, but you should ride slowly and take corners more gently. Always make sure your lights are turned on and look out for any potholes in the road. Make sure your electric scooter has an appropriate IP rating to be ridden in the rain, as models that don’t have an IP rating can become damaged due to exposure to moisture. 

Do regular maintenance on your electric scooter

This is especially important if you ride your electric scooter every day. Maintenance can include checking the tire pressure, tire traction and battery level. Checking things such as brakes should also be done but required less frequently. You should also make sure your electric scooter is stored properly to prolong its lifespan.

Know the traffic laws surrounding electric scooters

Are you unsure what the electric scooter laws are where you live? It’s definitely important to read about them before you step out on the road. Some cities allow private e-scooters to be ridden on roads while others only allow ride sharing scooters. Other places have speed limits on how fast electric scooters can travel so you should check your local state or council website to find out.

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