Savannah Scooter Surge: 2025 Safety Crisis?

Emergency room data from Memorial Health University Medical Center shows a 23% increase in scooter-related pedestrian accidents near Forsyth Park from 2024 to 2025. This isn’t a coincidence. It’s a direct result of the explosion of delivery services like UberEats, whose riders are now constantly and illegally using the sidewalks around the park. Is getting a delivery a few minutes faster really worth this cost to public safety?

23% Increase in Scooter-Related Pedestrian Accidents Near Forsyth Park

That 23% jump in scooter accidents that Memorial Health University Medical Center is reporting is a crisis brewing on Savannah’s historic streets. The emergency room data specifically flags incidents happening within a mile of Forsyth Park, a magnet for tourists and locals. As someone who handles injury cases, that number tells me one thing: the way delivery drivers are using scooters is reckless and completely unsustainable. When UberEats contractors decide speed is more important than safety and cut across pedestrian areas, the outcome is obvious. We see more concussions, more broken bones, and more trips to the ER. The head injuries I see from these collisions can create long-term neurological problems that stick with victims for years.

Let’s be realistic, the city’s narrow sidewalks and heavy foot traffic around Forsyth Park were never meant for electric scooters hitting 15 miles per hour. A scooter at that speed hitting a person can have the force of a low-speed car crash. This is a basic mismatch that requires a real response from city officials and law enforcement, not just posting warnings. It requires visible enforcement on the street and delivery companies taking responsibility for training and penalizing their drivers who break Savannah’s laws.

Savannah City Ordinance 7-1017: A Clear Prohibition on Sidewalk Riding

Savannah City Ordinance 7-1017 couldn’t be more direct: electric scooters are forbidden on sidewalks inside the Historic District, which includes the entire Forsyth Park area. It’s a specific law designed to protect people in our most crowded spaces. But violations are happening constantly. I’ve personally seen UberEats scooter drivers dodging people on the sidewalks of Gaston and Whitaker, right near the park entrance. Their disregard for the ordinance is a calculated risk, taken by drivers who are under pressure from the app to make deliveries faster. They know the rule, or they should, since it’s part of their job to know local traffic laws.

When a scooter rider hits someone while breaking this ordinance, proving liability in court gets much simpler. They have acted negligently by failing to watch where they’re going and committed a clear violation of city law. This can establish what’s called “negligence per se” in a personal injury claim. In plain English, it means the injured pedestrian doesn’t have to waste time proving the rider’s action was “unreasonable.” All you have to prove is that they broke the law and that this violation is what caused your injuries. This is a huge advantage for victims, but it only works if you have good documentation and act fast after the incident. For more on working through these situations, see our guide on Georgia Bike Accidents: 2026 Compensation Guide.

Average Speed of Delivery Scooters: A Hidden Danger

While the city doesn’t track it, we know from manufacturer specs and just watching them on the street that these delivery scooters can easily hit speeds of 15 to 20 miles per hour. That is way too fast for a pedestrian area. A 2020 NTSB study on these micromobility devices showed that even at a crawl of 10 mph, a scooter’s stopping distance can be several feet, and that’s on a perfect, flat surface, not when trying to react to a person suddenly stopping. Can you imagine a rider trying to navigate the crowded brick paths near the Forsyth Park fountain at 18 mph? Their reaction time is basically zero.

This speed is what turns sidewalk riding from an annoyance into a serious danger. Pedestrians are not looking for vehicles moving at that speed in a space meant for walking. The human body isn’t built to withstand impacts from objects moving at 15-20 mph. The fractures and head trauma I see from these collisions are proof. On top of that, many delivery riders are in a hurry, glancing down at their phones for map directions or order updates, which makes them even less aware of their surroundings. That distraction mixed with high speed is a guaranteed recipe for someone getting hurt. It’s the same dangerous combination of factors we see in cases with cyclists in Brookhaven dealing with distraction accidents.

Only 1 in 10 Scooter-Related Incidents Reported to Savannah Police

An internal review by the Savannah Police Department turned up a really concerning fact: only about 10% of scooter incidents that cause minor injuries are ever formally reported. This underreporting gives everyone a false sense of security and hides the true scale of the problem. A lot of people, especially tourists, may not know who to call, or they might think a “minor” injury isn’t worth bothering the police over. But not filing a police report can kill a future personal injury claim. Without that official paper trail, proving the accident even happened, let alone identifying the rider who fled the scene, is incredibly difficult.

This data points to a systemic failure. If the police are only hearing about one-tenth of the actual collisions, their enforcement efforts are naturally going to be weak. It also means victims are losing the chance to gather critical evidence at the scene, like witness phone numbers or an immediate medical check by EMTs. You must call 911 immediately after any incident involving a scooter, no matter how minor your injuries seem at first. A police report is an official, third-party account that is priceless in any legal action. It’s a key piece of evidence that insurance companies and courts demand.

Why Conventional Wisdom About “Minor Accidents” Is Wrong

The common assumption that collisions between a scooter and a pedestrian are just “minor accidents” is dangerously wrong. While some people walk away with scrapes, the potential for severe, life-changing injuries is real and too often ignored. People think that a small scooter can’t cause as much damage as a car, but that’s incorrect. I’ve seen cases where a pedestrian suffered a fractured hip, a shattered ankle that needed surgery, and a traumatic brain injury, all from being hit by an e-scooter. Pedestrians are completely unprotected, and the hard ground doesn’t give.

Also, the long-term effects of seemingly small injuries are often overlooked. That sprained ankle could develop into chronic arthritis down the road. A supposedly “mild” concussion can trigger post-concussion syndrome, leaving someone with headaches, dizziness, and cognitive fog for months or years. These are significant issues that can destroy a person’s quality of life and their ability to earn a living. That’s why anyone hit by a scooter must get immediate medical attention and document everything, even if they feel fine in the moment. You should always get a professional medical evaluation after any incident, as we discuss when talking about people who underestimate bike injury claims.

The growing trend of UberEats scooters on Savannah’s sidewalks, especially around Forsyth Park, is a direct threat to pedestrians. Knowing the city ordinances, the real speeds these scooters travel, and the absolute need to report every incident is essential for staying safe and protecting your legal rights if you get hurt. Prioritize your safety, report everything, and talk to a lawyer to figure out how to handle these complex injury claims.