Hungary had almost 550 e-scooter accidents resulting in injury since 2024

Motor vehicles for passenger transport caused 1,068 accidents resulting in personal injuries in May 2025, which corresponds to an increase of 7.8% compared to April, but 13.9% fewer than in the same month of 2024, the latest KSH data show.

The figure for May is slightly higher than in May 2021, but lower than in the fifth month of the previous three years. The graph below clearly reflects seasonal patterns, with the number of road accidents involving injuries rising between the start of the year and the end of summer.

The number of accidents caused by the drivers of passenger cars, modepds, motorcycles or bicycles fits into the seasonal pattern.

The total number of road accidents involcing personal injuries (which includes those that were caused by pedestrians, freigh transport or other passenger transport vehicles) was 1,252 in May, up 8.4% m/m, but down 10.9% yr/yr.

Bikes, mopeds, motorcycles...

The KSH has longer-term statistics for accidents caused by the riders of bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles. These go back to January 2021 and also show a seasonal pattern, with much higher accident numbers for cyclists, especially when it comes to the cumulated figure.

E-bikes, e-scooters...

The Central Statistical Office (KSH) has only started collecting statistics on accidents involving e-scooter or e-bike riders since January 2024.

• Last year, e-scooter riders were involved in 367 accidents resulting in personal injury, and there were 176 such accidents in the first five months of this year, up 57% from 112 in January-May last year.
• E-bike riders caused 133 accidents resulting in personal injury on the road last year, and 39 in the first five months of 2025, down 11.4% from 44 in Jan-May last year.
• By comparison, moped drivers caused 497 accidents resulting in personal injury in 2024, and 159 in the first vie months of this year, agains5 186 (-14.5%) in Jan-May 2024.
• Meanwhile, bike riders (not on e-bike) caused 1,228 accidents resulting in personal injury last year, and 390 in the first five months this year, down 17.5% from 473 a year earlier.
• Passenger car drivers caused 9,675 accidents resulting in personal injury last year, and 4,411 in Jan-May this year, down 6.8% from 4,734 in the same period last year.

Recently, we have seen a growing number of shocking videos of e-scooter riders being hit by cars. These accidents usually occur at pedestrian crossings, where riders should dismount and walk, allowing motorists to anticipate and react to the much lower speed of pedestrians.

Unfortunately, May saw the highest number of e-scooter accidents resulting in injuries (61).

The cumulative number of such accidents was 543. (The KSH began publishing statistics on e-bike and e-scooter accidents in January 2024.)

In May, there were only nine accidents caused by e-bike riders, bringing the total number of such accidents to "only" 172.

How serious are the accidents?

As regards the seriousness of the accidents, the KSH breaks them down into four categories: (i) fatal, (ii) serious injury, (iii) light injury, (iv) no injury. While the above road accident data also for May, a breakdown of their seriousness is available only up to April.

Bike accidents

Last year, 23 accidents (1.9%) caused by bike riders were fatal.

This figure was 2.3% for the first four months of last year and 2.2% for January-April this year.

The percentage of serious injuries went up to over 37% from 33% in Jan-Apr, while that of light injuries moderated to under 60% from almost 65%.

Moped accidents

As for moped riders, six or 1.2% of personal injury accidents were fatal last year.

The 0.8% fatality rate for January-April 2024 shot up to 2.6% in the same period this year.

The percentage of serious injuries rose to 39.3% from almost 37%, while that of light injuries dropped to 59% from 62.3%.

E-scooter accidents

Of the 367 accidents resulting in personal injury in 2024, only three (0.8%) were fatal when caused by an e-scooter rider.

There were no deaths in this category in the first four months of 2025, just like in the same period last year.

The ratio of serious injuries rose eased to under 29% from almost 37%, while that of light injuries exceeded 71%, up from 63.1% in Jan-Apr 2024.

E-bike accidents

Last year, three accidents caused by e-bikers were fatal, accounting for 2.3% of the 133 cases.

In contrast, one of the 30 cases this year proved to be fatal, equating to 3.3%.

10, or one third of the total number of accidents resulting in injuries, ended with serious injuries, down from almost 54% in January-April last year, while the share of light injuries went up to over 63% from over 46%.

The following graphs show a monthly breakdown of the above vehicles in terms of the severity of the accidents they caused...

Budapest's protected cycling infrastructure is measly

A recent European survey evaluating child-friendly transportation in 36 major cities ranked Budapest 33rd for the extent of its protected cycling infrastructure – dedicated bike lanes that are physically separated from motor traffic to ensure safe and accessible routes for cyclists of all ages.

With 822 kilometres of protected cycling infrastructure, Paris came in first, accounting for 48% of the total road network. Helsinki (784 km, 48%) and Copenhagen (397 km, 43%) were also in the Top3.

Budapest had 212 km of protected cycling infrastructure, a mere 4% of the total road network.

Hungarian legislaton to change

It is estimated that there are between 80,000 and 100,000 e-scooters in Hungary, of which around 25,000 are available for rent or shared use. The remainder are privately owned. Although there are no official statistics, these figures are based on surveys and estimates from organisations such as the Future Mobility Association.

New and stricter rules for e-scooter use are expected to come into effect in Hungary in 2026.

The most significant change is the distinction between lower- and higher-performance scooters. Lower-performance e-scooters, which can reach speeds of up to 25 km/h, can be ridden by children aged 12 and over. However, 12- and 13-year-olds must wear a cycle helmet. These vehicles will be permitted to travel at a maximum speed of 10 km/h on pavements and 20 km/h in other traffic areas.

The rules for higher-performance scooters are set to be even stricter. Those capable of speeds of up to 45 km/h will be subject to the same regulations as mopeds. Riders must be at least 14 years old and have compulsory third-party insurance. These scooters will be only permitted on roads and, outside built-up areas, on cycle paths at reduced speeds. They will be completely prohibited from using pavements and cannot carry passengers.

Cover image (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images