TCS crash tests reveal helmet effectiveness for e-scooter riders

The Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) has conducted crash tests to evaluate the effectiveness of bicycle helmets during e-scooter accidents. Using a dummy equipped with sensors to measure head and neck impact, the tests simulated frontal collisions at speeds of 15 km/h and 20 km/h.

At 15 km/h, the tests showed that wearing a helmet significantly reduced the risk of severe injury, keeping the Head Injury Criterion (HIC36) below the 1000 threshold, which indicates a 50 percent probability of severe injury. However, at 20 km/h, the forces were much higher—exceeding 200 to 300 times the force of gravity—and even with a helmet, there remained a greater than 50 percent chance of sustaining a serious head injury.

The TCS recommends helmet use for all e-scooter riders. Data from the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) indicates a rise in accidents, noting that in the past year, 152 e-scooter riders were seriously injured and three fatalities occurred in Switzerland.