Electric-bicycle-related injury: a rising traffic injury burden in China.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the rising casualty rate related to electric bicycle usage.


METHODS
Analysis of the Hangzhou Police Bureau's data on electric-bicycle-related injuries and deaths.


METHODS
Hangzhou, China, 2004-2008. PATIENTS OR SUBJECTS: Electric-bicycle riders.


METHODS
Electric-bicycle-related casualty rates in Hangzhou from 2004 to 2008.


RESULTS
There was a significant average annual increase in electric-bicycle-related casualty rates of 2.7 per 100,000 population (95% CI 1.5 to 3.9, p=0.005). At the same time, overall road traffic and manual-bicycle-related deaths and injuries decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
As it is difficult to ban the use of electric bicycles in China, laws, rules and regulations need to be reinforced and strengthened. New regulations should be created for the safety of electric bicycle riders and others on the road, and mandatory helmet use should be considered.
Feng
Zhiying
Z
The 1st Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
Raghuwanshi
Rakesh P
RP
Xu
Zigang
Z
Huang
Dayong
D
Zhang
Chong
C
Jin
Tao
T
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control