Children among most frequent victims of e-scooter accidents in Bosnia's Mostar
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Centre for Emergency Medicine and Emergency Admission at the University Clinical Hospital (SKB) Mostar treats patients injured in electric scooter accidents throughout the year, with the number of such cases increasing significantly during the summer months.
"The number of injuries rises during the summer period. The exact figure depends on the period observed, but we usually treat several patients every month," said Dr. Ružica Biloš, Head of the Centre for Emergency Medicine and Emergency Admission at SKB Mostar, in a statement to FENA.
She added that the number of injuries related to electric scooters has been steadily increasing in recent years, which is expected given their growing popularity and presence in traffic, CE Report quotes FENA.
According to her, most of the injured are children and minors, who often use electric scooters without appropriate protective equipment or adult supervision.
"The most common injuries involve the head and face, as well as fractures of the upper limbs, particularly the forearm, wrist and hand. Bruises to the chest, abdomen and lower limbs are also common. More serious injuries, such as spinal injuries and internal bleeding, are rare. The severity of injuries depends on the circumstances of the fall, the involvement of other road users, the use of protective equipment and the speed at which the scooter was travelling," Biloš explained.
She stressed that enforcing existing traffic regulations, introducing new rules, setting a minimum age for electric scooter use, holding parents accountable, providing education and promoting the use of protective equipment are all key measures to reduce the number of injuries.
The Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Ministry of Interior (MUP HNC) said that during 2025 and the first six months of 2026, a total of 11 traffic accidents involving electric scooter riders were recorded, including two accidents involving minors.
The Ministry added that, since electric scooters are not specifically regulated under the current Law on the Basics of Road Traffic Safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is not possible to accurately assess trends in the number of such accidents or compare them in a way that would provide a complete picture.
"The most common risky behaviours observed by police officers among electric scooter riders include excessive or inappropriate speed, improper use of traffic areas, riding without protective equipment, and riding at night without adequate lighting or reflective elements. Additional risks include using a mobile phone while riding and lack of experience, particularly among minors," the Ministry said.
Officials noted that electric scooters are especially common in urban areas and during the warmer months, when their use becomes more frequent.
"However, the available data alone are not sufficient to conclude that the number of traffic accidents increases during the summer months. Since this type of vehicle is not clearly defined under the current legislation, the police have limited authority to sanction certain offences. In some situations, an electric scooter is treated in practice as a 'vehicle' as defined by the existing law, allowing liability to be established under provisions relating to vehicle operation in traffic, movement on roads and right of way, particularly when the scooter rider is responsible for causing a traffic accident," the Ministry explained.
The Ministry appealed to all electric scooter users, especially parents and guardians of minors, to use this mode of transport responsibly and with the utmost caution.
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