The 1970s and 80s predicted hoverboards as the personal transportation vehicle of choice, but so far transportation technology hasn’t been able to escape the wheel.
It has nothing to do with safety standards. Despite ongoing efforts to increase helmet usage and awareness, a strikingly low number of riders in the US are actually wearing helmets.
E-Scooter sales skyrocketed during the pandemic. With an effort to avoid public transit, and a little extra cash on hand from the stimulus checks, many people were looking for new ways to get around.