LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The College of Southern Nevada is offering free e-scooter and e-bike safety classes for families as Nevada prepares to study statewide regulations for the increasingly popular electric vehicles.
The two-hour classes at all CSN campuses teach road rules, proper safety equipment and accident prevention techniques as hospitals report a surge in serious injuries from e-scooter crashes.
“The motorcycle program manager for CSN said she’s seeing too many kids, too many adults breaking road rules or not knowing what they’re doing,” said FOX5 reporter Jaclyn Schultz, who covered the safety initiative.
Parents unaware of vehicle capabilities
Many parents purchase e-scooters and e-bikes without understanding their speed capabilities or legal requirements, according to Schultz’s reporting.
“They go to Costco, Sam’s Club, even get it from Amazon or just online,” Schultz said.
Some electric vehicles classified as motorcycles require riders to be 16 or older, but can be purchased online without age verification.
“Parents don’t know what their kids are getting,” Schultz said.
Safety gear required to prevent serious injuries
Unlike traditional bicycles and scooters, high-speed electric vehicles can cause severe trauma requiring emergency room treatment rather than basic first aid.
“When these things are going 25, 35, 45 miles an hour, then you’re talking serious head trauma injuries, concussions, broken skulls, broken bones, major physical therapy. These people don’t end up in the urgent care, they’re in the ER,” Schultz said.
The CSN classes teach that many e-scooters require motorcycle-grade safety equipment rather than standard bicycle helmets.
“So many people don’t know that for an e-scooter or some of those fast devices, you need a motorcycle helmet. Anything less won’t protect you. You might need motorcycle gear on your body, like a jacket or pants with armor. You might need wrist guards,” Schultz said.
Accident surge after holidays
Sunrise Hospital trauma center reported increased accidents in the beginning of 2026.
“I did a story recently on a surge of accidents being seen at Sunrise Trauma from adults, from children. They’re even suspecting that maybe a lot more children are getting hurt because they got presents over the holidays,” Schultz said.
Nevada launches comprehensive study
State lawmakers plan to study e-scooter regulations over the next several months after declining to address the issue during a recent special legislative session.
“Lawmakers are going to get testimony from law enforcement, from school officials, public safety officials, and medical experts… to try to bring it back for the next legislative session,” Schultz said.
A CSN motorcycle instructor described the current situation as “the wild, wild west” due to the lack of comprehensive regulations.
“Every state, every community is grappling with how to make laws keep pace with the pace of technology,” Schultz said.
Potential statewide regulations could include mandatory helmets, speed limits, safety gear requirements, and age restrictions for different vehicle classifications.
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