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Unless you’ve been hiding from the news in the last decade, you know that for a while, hoverboards were considered a risky investment. While fun, inconsistent manufacturing standards meant that faulty lithium-ion battery packs could overheat and burst — leading to fires and explosions. But exactly how dangerous are hoverboards, and how likely are you to get injured while riding one?
Until 2018, hoverboards had little cohesive oversight. Many overseas manufacturers produced them with inconsistent production and materials standards. But before then, in the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) logged countless incidents of both hoverboard-related property damage and injuries. Thankfully, hoverboards are much safer now, and some people may use them on their job. You can read about how OSHA views hoverboards in the workplace if you are considering this.
The best hoverboards belong to a product category known as micro-mobility products that also includes e-bikes and e-scooters. In total, this product category accounts for roughly 133,000 injuries that were reported between 2017 and 2019. But when you dig further, hoverboards account for significantly fewer injuries than e-bikes and e-scooters.
According to CPSC, there were more than 250 reported injury incidents related specifically to hoverboards between 2016 and 2017. The watchdog organization estimates that faulty hoverboards have accounted for more than $4 million in property damage which includes house fires. As if that’s not enough of a sobering statistic, hoverboards can be attributed to 13 burn injuries and three smoke inhalation injuries. Additionally, you can purchase after-market attachments that can make the hoverboard more like a go-kart. This will help with safety as you are no longer standing, thus lower to the ground should you lose control and fall, reducing the likelihood of injury some. Just like when you got your hoverboard, however, be sure to learn how to control the hoverboard kart attachment before you set out on any adventures. And, of course, always wear safety gear.
The total aggregate of micro-mobility deaths between 2017 and 2019 is 41. But according to a CPSC study, only four were attributed to hoverboards. And of that figure, three of the four deaths were in people under the age of 18.
Likewise, in that same study, evidence shows that three of the four fatalities were fire-related. This includes two house fires where, sadly, children were trapped in a home where a hoverboard that was left charging caught fire.
Just like with any other mobility device, wearing the proper safety gear is one of the best things you can do. Most hoverboard-related injuries are a result of people losing their balance and falling off the device.
And if you’re concerned about fires, only buy UL-certified hoverboards. Likewise, don’t overcharge your hoverboard, and avoid letting it sit idle for too long at a full charge.
Sources:
Exploding Hoverboards Explained
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/hoverboards
https://www.ul.com/services/personal-e-mobility-testing-and-certification
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/e-scooter-hoverboard-e-bike-deaths-41-last-3-years/
