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US Safety Watchdog Warns Against Onewheel Boards After Reported Ejection Injuries (engadget.com) 71

Posted by BeauHD from the falling-with-style dept.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned Americans against buying or using any Onewheel self-balance skateboardings, ranging from the original through to newer models like the GT and Pint X. Engadget reports: The vehicles can forcefully eject riders, the CPSC said. The Commission added that here have been reports of "at least" four deaths and multiple serious injuries between 2019 and 2021 after the boards either stopped balancing properly or came to an abrupt stop.

Onewheel creator Future Motion has refused a recall and rejected the CPSC's stance. The company believes the Commission's warning is "unjustified and alarmist," and that its boards are safe if they're used responsibly with appropriate safety equipment. Board owners are "adults" who know that there's always a risk to any board sport or even riding a bike, Future Motion argued. To that end, it noted that the CPSC itself prized safety education over warnings when snowboarding took off in the 1990s.

The firm said it had studied boards affected by sudden stops, and hadn't found any inherent technical problems. Onewheels have lower serious injury rates than bikes, ATVs and motorcycles, Future Motion claimed. It also accused the CPSC of preferring a "sensational" alert over cooperating on safety improvements.
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US Safety Watchdog Warns Against Onewheel Boards After Reported Ejection Injuries More

US Safety Watchdog Warns Against Onewheel Boards After Reported Ejection Injuries

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  • ...expects it to be safe, completely lacks common sense.

    • Re:Anyone who buys something like that and (Score:5, Interesting)

      by n.sider ( 10210149 ) on Wednesday November 16, 2022 @08:56PM (#63057006)
      Skateboarder here, but I've never used these "one wheel" boards. Getting "ejected" as they call it is part of the game. You're going to fall and you're going to get injured and tore up, no matter how experienced you are. If you're not getting injured, you're not pushing yourself or getting out of your comfort zone. Getting bashed up skating to me I guess is something like a runner's high. It feels fucking great to come home scraped up, sore and bloody after an afternoon of skateboard. Each to their own.

      • Re:Anyone who buys something like that and (Score:5, Funny)

        by Tablizer ( 95088 ) on Wednesday November 16, 2022 @09:01PM (#63057022) Journal

        > It feels fucking great to come home scraped up, sore and bloody after an afternoon of skateboard.

        If I wanted that, I'd return to dating.

      • Re:Anyone who buys something like that and (Score:5, Insightful)

        by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) on Wednesday November 16, 2022 @09:18PM (#63057040)

        Getting "ejected" as they call it is part of the game. You're going to fall and you're going to get injured and tore up,

        Not sure getting ejected from a (non-powered) snow/skate board is the same thing. From TFS/A:

        ... the boards either stopped balancing properly or came to an abrupt stop.

        Meaning the boards suddenly stopped working as the user would expect them to -- while in use. They fell due to (alleged) mechanical failure. If people kept getting ejected because the brand of snowboard or binding you/they used kept failing unexpectedly while using them, you'd probably consider another brand, or model anyway. If your car suddenly stopped for no reason, while you were pressing the accelerator, you'd probably think there was something wrong with the car.

        • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

          by 93 Escort Wagon ( 326346 )

          So it's like Deathrolling.

          Fry: What's deathrolling?

          Child: It's like skateboarding.

          Spike: But half the time someone dies.

          Fry: Oh. So it's a little safer than skateboarding!

        • They fell due to (alleged) mechanical failure.

          It might also be software malfunction. That was my first thought upon reading the summary.

          • They fell due to (alleged) mechanical failure.

            It might also be software malfunction. ...

            Granted, and more likely; I should have been more inclusive.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by adrn01 ( 103810 )
          FIY: Per the OneWheel site, these are electric, self-propelled, self-balancing vehicles, so classing them with skateboards is probably misleading. Perhaps they are closer to a Segway that is missing the handlebars.

        • Re: (Score:1, Interesting)

          by luther349 ( 645380 )
          what makes them do that is people pushing them beyond there limits. flying 55 down a road. there is a alarm that sounds telling you you above rated limits and if you ignore it the tire locks up because the battery voltage fell to low. of course riders see this as a challenge on how far can they push them.

        • They fell due to (alleged) mechanical failure.

          If you think this doesn't happen to skateboarders, or BMX bikers, I suggest you jump on Fail Army and watch the endless stream of people hurting themselves.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by saider ( 177166 )

          How's this different than a rock in the road?

        • No different than being on a skateboard and hitting a pebble. You are going to go flying, powered or not.

        • Getting "ejected" as they call it is part of the game. You're going to fall and you're going to get injured and tore up,

          Not sure getting ejected from a (non-powered) snow/skate board is the same thing. From TFS/A:

          ... the boards either stopped balancing properly or came to an abrupt stop.

          Meaning the boards suddenly stopped working as the user would expect them to -- while in use. They fell due to (alleged) mechanical failure.

          If a skateboard is a parachute, than a Onewheel is a helicopter. What's keeping

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by eth1 ( 94901 )

          Getting "ejected" as they call it is part of the game. You're going to fall and you're going to get injured and tore up,

          Not sure getting ejected from a (non-powered) snow/skate board is the same thing. From TFS/A:

          ... the boards either stopped balancing properly or came to an abrupt stop.

          I haven't skateboarded, but I have done a lot of inline skating. All it takes is a small rock to stop a skate dead. I'd imagine it's similar for a skateboard. At least with the inline skates, you learn to take weight off of that foot and pick it up while maintaining balance on the other foot, but I'd imagine a skateboard would put you on your face pretty easily in that situation.

          I think the real problem is that fun often entails some risk, and the lawyers and people that can't evaluate risk or accept respon

      • The difference between a OneWheel and most other vehicles is that other vehicles will fail "safely," in that an electric bike, scooter or 4-wheeled skateboard will simply roll to a stop if the system fails abruptly. When a OneWheel fails the front end slams into the ground and the rider is forcefully ejected with no warning.

      • The only people I've seen using these are not using helmets, kneepads, or any other protective gear. They're using them as to commute possibly.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

        Skateboarder here, but I've never used these "one wheel" boards. Getting "ejected" as they call it is part of the game. You're going to fall and you're going to get injured and tore up, no matter how experienced you are. If you're not getting injured, you're not pushing yourself or getting out of your comfort zone. Getting bashed up skating to me I guess is something like a runner's high. It feels fucking great to come home scraped up, sore and bloody after an afternoon of skateboard. Each to their own.

        Cons

    • My daughter and I have been riding our Onewheel Pint's since the start of Pandemic. No issues after thousands of miles but we always wear helmets and gloves and pads. Some people really push these things and they are an electro mechanical device so it's always good to be careful and keep speed no faster than 12MPH. Some are going 20MPH or faster and that's where there is no room for error if something does happen
  • Same risk IMHO. Also if safety rules are followed Lawn Jarts [wikipedia.org] are even more safe.

    The true risk will be when those batteries start burning.

    • Same risk IMHO. Also if safety rules are followed Lawn Jarts [wikipedia.org] are even more safe.

        The true risk will be when those batteries start burning.

      Unicycles are human powered and balanced. The report is that these powered boards abruptly stop and throw the rider.

  • Very fast (Score:4)

    by fermion ( 181285 ) on Wednesday November 16, 2022 @09:10PM (#63057032) Homepage Journal
    So these things are very fast single wheel $2,000 vehicles, not skateboards. My first car cost less though I have had bicycles that cost more. They travel up to 20 mph, slower than my bicycle but faster than any sustained skateboard speed. It is easy to imagine that simple user error could cause serious injury or death

    These are not like the peloton machines that required pets or children for sacrifice. That was a design flaw and parents who donâ(TM)t supervise children. This is likely just a matter of lack of attention.

    Because only the rider is likely to be injured, and it is likely a user problem, a recall is not necessary. A strong warning yes. Maybe a refund for those who want it. Maybe a speed limiter for the first 100 miles?

    • Maybe a speed limiter for the first 100 miles?

      While that might help, an fall due to a sudden failure like what's described in TFS/A (below) could be really dangerous at almost any speed.

      ... the boards either stopped balancing properly or came to an abrupt stop.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by fermion ( 181285 )
        According to the riders looking for a class action lawsuit.
        • fermion will only believe people who satisfy both of the following conditions: (1) they have been legitimately injured by a malfunctioning product; and (2) they do not form or join a class action lawsuit.

    • I have a friend's colleague who is suing after traumatic brain injury.

      Maybe a speed limiter for the first 100 miles?

      This is why they need to be recalled. They can't limit their speed. They don't have mechanical brakes.

      This is like riding a bicycle with brakes that can't stop the bike and if you exceed the speed limit will eject the front wheel. It's inherently absurd.

      Too steep downhill? Regen braking can't slow you down, you exceed the motor's limits. Nosedive.
      Too steep uphill? Motor overheats can't balance. Nosedive.
      Battery low? Nosedive.
      Battery

      • Don't forget software malfunction.

      • Re:Very fast (Score:4, Informative)

        by drinkypoo ( 153816 ) <drink@hyperlogos.org> on Thursday November 17, 2022 @06:30AM (#63057598) Homepage Journal

        This is why they need to be recalled. They can't limit their speed. They don't have mechanical brakes.

        You don't have any experience with electrics, do you? At all?

        Too steep downhill? Regen braking can't slow you down, you exceed the motor's limits. Nosedive.

        You step off. You're not strapped to the board.

        Too steep uphill? Motor overheats can't balance. Nosedive.

        You step off. You're not strapped to the board.

        Battery low? Nosedive.

        There is a battery meter on the board. Look at it.

        Battery too full? Nosedive.

        Don't expect it to regen when it's full. Onewheel GT has an option to charge to 90%.

        At the VERY LEAST they need to add an alarm to sound to alert the rider that they need bail or start slaloming or if possible, come to a stop immediately.

        Onewheel GT has a warning beep.

        • Ok, you please step off when it is at a speed it can't handle - I have news for you - you can't handle that speed either. Happy face planting.

          • Ok, you please step off when it is at a speed it can't handle

            No, step off before you go down the steep hill.

            If you can't think ahead before you do that, onewheel is not for you.

            It's not for me, either. I have an awareness of my limitations. I take responsibility for that myself.

    • You can set your max speed on a one wheel. It is highly recommended that the user does not enable the advanced mode to unlock full speed until very comfortable. I work with several people that have these and use them on a regular basis, and most don't unlock full speed for the very reason of being thrown off at 20+mph is very uncomfortable.

  • > boards are safe if they're used responsibly

    In California (and probably elsewhere) using a Onewheel on the sidewalk is as illegal as driving a car on the sidewalk, yet the only place I see them used is on sidewalks.

    • Really? I've also seen them on bike paths which are clearly marked "No Motor Vehicles"

    • The only place I've ever seen them used is at festivals. They're really quite scarce. Apparently most people are risk-averse enough to prefer more wheels.

  • You mean an electric unicycle made in China is not safe?!?

  • "Onewheels have lower serious injury rates than bikes, ATVs and motorcycles,"

    Well, I suspect that statement is due to Onewheels being used exponentially less than Bikes, ATVs, and motorcycles.. By that measure, alligator and hippopotamus serious injury rates are also lower than bikes, ATVs and motorcycles.

    • I have noticed that death from alligators is extremely low in California.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by nasch ( 598556 )

      Depends what they mean by "rate", or what is in the denominator. 1 year? 1 million miles? 100,000 hours? 100,000 customers? The first one would be quite misleading, but the others would account for the differences in how much each is used (to some extent - measuring by number of customers doesn't quite).

  • Physics says onewheels are more dangerous (Score:4, Insightful)

    by nothinginparticular ( 6181282 ) on Thursday November 17, 2022 @03:31AM (#63057454)
    than most other e-powered devices. I looked into buying one in a brief moment of madness a while back. Essentially, the sensors and motor try to keep the deck level (like segway). If you lean forward on the deck the motor works harder to try to keep it level so you speed up. And here lies the problem, if you demand too much from the motor it will not have the power to keep you level and the deck will dig into the ground, catapulting it's unsuspecting driver off at speed. There is no way around this flaw other than to build a motor/battery combo powerful enough to carry the heaviest rider up the steepest hill he can find (at rock bottom state of charge). Basically, the whole onewheel idea is not feasible.

    • Danger is relative to consequence of failure. The practical difference between these devices and any kid doing stupid shit on their skateboard isn't the complexity, but rather the fact that these things are considered incredibly fast commuter vehicles. If skateboards travelled at 35km/h you'll see a lot of deaths and injury too (and likely banings).

    • And here lies the problem, if you demand too much from the motor it will not have the power to keep you level and the deck will dig into the ground, catapulting it's unsuspecting driver off at speed.

      So, just like if you drive your car too fast around a sharp turn, it will catapult you off the edge of the road at speed?

      User failure. Everything has limits beyond which operation is unsafe.

    • Maybe they could add a small wheel to the front of the board so a nose-dive doesn't result in instant catapultage.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

    Lots of people being randomly thrown off and injured with no obvious cause

    • Only the first few moments of that video show the problem, the rest of the video is trying to blame the user and pander to the company.

      All sales final, clearly the company doesn't care for the customer. The safety fender is an added expense, and is clearly a money grab.

      Once you hit the unit's top speed you are essentially going to be thrown off when it can't keep up and nosedives. They don't even have sensors for both feet - wtf is that? The CPSC has a case here, the company can do better.
  • I think this isn't a bug, but a feature.
  • You couldn't convince me in the first place that these were in any way shape or form safe. Center of gravity as high as it can get, and they go too fast.

  • "lower serious injury rates" is probably a lie (Score:3)

    by PJ6 ( 1151747 ) on Thursday November 17, 2022 @10:52AM (#63057984)
    The Bicycle Safety Almanac [bicycleuniverse.com] says cycling has a death rate of 0.11 per 10 million miles.

    The OneWheel recently passed the 50 million mile mark [prnewswire.com].

    So if there have been at least 4 deaths, per mile, they're roughly an order of magnitude more likely to kill you than if you were riding a bicycle.

    • I would certainly expect the injury rate to be higher than cycling. There are more exciting failure modes. The more wheels the better for stability, even three wheels (which is worse than two wheels in some ways, but better in others.) Interestingly e-bikes seem to only have about the same death rate as normal ones, but most of them are limited so I guess that makes sense.

  • ...they're small wheels called fangs. [land-surf.com] Probably not a perfect solution, but seems like they'd help. Seems like they should be standard, not an add-on.

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