Retrofit indicators for e-scooters

An e-scooter indicator - like the rest of the e-scooter lighting - primarily serves to improve visibility in road traffic. Compared to other road users, e-scooters are small, narrow and maneuverable. They therefore benefit above average from being actively lit. Larger vehicles such as cars and trucks can recognize flashing lights over long distances and in all weather conditions, while the hand signal is lost, especially at dusk or against the light. This means that cars can react better to e-scooters.

If you wear dark clothing when riding, it will be more difficult to recognize you on the e-scooter at dusk or in poor visibility, even if you had the opportunity to give a hand signal. On the one hand, it is therefore recommended to wear light-colored or reflective clothing . On the other hand, there is the option of retrofitting active lighting such as indicators on the e-scooter . Even if you still use the classic hand signal, a turn signal increases visibility and acts as an additional signal. Pedestrians and cyclists can also react earlier to the signal, which is visible from afar. In order for visibility to be optimally increased, you have to use indicators that are clearly visible from every direction and cannot be obscured by the driver.

In addition to visibility, upgrading your e-scooter with indicators can offer a huge advantage in terms of stability . As already mentioned, the risk of falling when giving the hand signal is greatly increased because you are driving one-handed for a short while. The design and tires of the e-scooter, coupled with the speed and high center of gravity, cause instability when riding with one hand. Not indicating a turn at all carries the risk of being overlooked by other road users and causing an accident.

Turn signals on the e-scooter clearly show a change in direction - just as is the case with a car or bus. Stability is increased in all cases where the hands do not have to be removed from the handlebars to blink. This must be taken into account when selecting the best indicator for retrofitting to an e-scooter. For example, with glowing gloves you have to remove your hands from the handlebars to use them. E-scooter indicators, which are retrofitted directly to the ends of the handlebars and have to be operated via a button on the handlebars, have the advantage that you don't have to completely raise your hand, but sliding along the handlebars can create additional risk. Gesture-activated turn signals are best, which do not require you to take your hands off the handlebars. Retrofitted turn signals, which are activated via a small remote control on the handlebars, also increase stability, but only if the remote control is mounted directly on one of the handles and can be reached without moving your hands.

The simplest thing right away: You don't have to install a flasher on the e-scooter. It snaps onto the upper arms, can be used on any vehicle and - also important - cannot be stolen from a parked vehicle. You don't have to wire or screw anything, you don't have to screw metal pins into the handlebars and you don't need to mount a remote control. At Flasher the motto is “snap - snap - off”. So snap on the left, snap on the right and off you go! In Germany, flashers are not subject to the StVZO because they are not mounted on the vehicle. However, we still observe all relevant legal requirements. Here we explain in more detail why you can use Flasher in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

When it comes to visibility, Flasher stands out thanks to its 360° lighting and its positioning at the eye level of drivers.

360° visibility means that the bracelets light up all around and you can be seen from every direction on the e-scooter. 90% of accidents occur when turning left through oncoming traffic, which is why it is important that Flasher flasher also shines forward. Helmets or indicators on the running board, which are only visible from the rear, do not meet this criterion, nor do indicators in the handles or on the handlebars, which can only be seen from the front. Even indicators in the backpack are only visible from behind and are therefore of no use to oncoming traffic.

The other important thing is lighting at eye level. Not only does a turn signal raise the e-scooter to the proverbial eye level with other vehicles such as cars, Flasher is also mounted exactly in the field of vision of these car drivers and therefore cannot be overlooked. Here indicators that are attached close to the wheels lose out again.

With Flasher you can clearly distinguish between the left and right indicators. After all, the driver's entire upper body is between the two bracelets. If lights on other turn signals are placed close together and near the center of the vehicle, this clear distinctiveness is not present. In the worst case, traffic confuses the left turn signal with a right turn signal and overtakes while the e-scooter is about to turn left. Indicators on helmets have the additional problem that the head - and therefore also the indicator - turns when turning, namely when looking over the shoulder.

Last but not least, Flasher is unique when it comes to operation: no remote control means one less thing to charge or risk breaking. Flasher can also be controlled completely without having to move your hand even a millimeter. The handlebars are always under control and stable, the brakes are always at hand. Flasher therefore also contributes completely to the stability of the e-scooter. Not to mention, using the remote control can be tedious if you're wearing thick gloves. And having to constantly look down to see which button you're pressing impairs your attention.