Are Longboards Safe? The Data-Driven Answer

Longboards are not inherently safe or unsafe, the risk is defined by speed, environment, and protective gear. A 2014 trauma center study of 824 patients found 57.5% of injuries involved longboards, with those riders suffering traumatic brain injuries (TBI) at a rate of 30.6%, compared to 12.7% for skateboarders. Safety hinges on three things: wearing a helmet certified to ASTM F1492 or Snell N-94, avoiding high-speed traffic, and choosing a stable board design for your skill level.

The jump from a 12.7% to a 30.6% TBI rate represents the difference between a concussion you walk away from and a head injury that changes how you think. That gap explains why the safety conversation around longboards has to start with the data, not with vibes.

What follows is a breakdown of where that risk comes from, what the government and medical journals actually say, and the specific, staged plan to ride within your limits. This section explains the gear that works, the terrain that doesn’t, and how to read past the marketing to the real stakes.

Key Takeaways

• Longboarders suffer head injuries at more than double the rate of skateboarders (30.6% vs 12.7% TBI incidence), per a 2014 Injury journal study of 824 patients.
• Over 75% of pediatric longboard injuries happen on streets and roads, not in skate parks, making traffic awareness a primary safety skill.
• Helmet certification matters, look for ASTM F1492 or Snell N-94 on the label, not just a “skate-style” look.
• Speed wobble is a design and skill issue mitigated by longer decks, wider wheel bases, and properly tightened trucks.
• The single most effective safety upgrade is a worn helmet, though studies disagree on documented use among injured riders: one study found only 4.1%, while another found 13.9%.

The Data on Longboard Injuries vs Skateboard Injuries

First, a clarification. When people ask “are longboards safe?”, they’re often comparing them to skateboards. The data paints a clear, and stark, picture.

A 2014 study published in Injury and available in full text on PubMed followed 824 patients at a Level II trauma center. It found that 57.5% of the injuries involved longboards, compared to 42.5% for skateboards. More critically, the traumatic brain injury (TBI) incidence for longboarders was 30.6%. For skateboarders, it was 12.7%. That’s more than double.

This 2014 comparative analysis of skateboard and longboard injuries, published in the Injury journal, found longboarders were significantly more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries (30.6%) than skateboarders (12.7%). The study noted helmet use was documented in only 4.1% of injured longboard cases.

Why the disparity? It comes down to use. The same study notes longboards are typically 42 to 80 inches long and built for speed, downhill cruising, and transportation. Skateboards, at 30 to 38 inches, are more associated with tricks in controlled environments like skate parks.

Another study, focusing on pediatric cases and cited on PubMed, looked at 287 longboard injuries. It found 75.3% occurred on streets and roads, and only 1.4% in skate parks. This environmental split is everything. A longboarder going 30+ mph on a public road faces risks a skateboarder in a park simply doesn’t.

Injury Factor	Longboarders	Skateboarders	Source
Typical Use	Transportation, downhill, speed	Tricks, skate parks	Fabian & Thygerson, 2014
Common Injury Location	Streets/Roads (75.3%)	Skate Parks (26.4%)	Keays & Dumas, 2014
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Incidence	30.6%	12.7%	Fabian & Thygerson, 2014
Severe Neurological Trauma	8.6%	3.7%	Keays & Dumas, 2014

The takeaway is that longboards have a different and more severe risk profile in specific, measurable ways, which is the core of the are longboards safe debate. Treating them like a bigger, more stable skateboard misses the point. You’re dealing with a vehicle that can reach car-like speeds in traffic-heavy environments.

Gear Up: The Non-Negotiable Safety Kit

I’ve seen the argument a hundred times: “I’m just cruising, I don’t need all that stuff.” Then I read the studies where almost half the injured riders had no helmet documented. The gear isn’t optional; it’s the baseline.

Helmet: This is the one. The American Academy of Pediatrics states helmets for skateboarders/longboarders should meet ASTM F1492 or Snell N-94. These standards are for multiple impacts, the kind you get from hitting pavement, not just a single bike fall. A bike helmet won’t cut it.

Common mistake: Choosing a helmet based on style alone. A loose-fitting helmet or one not designed for multi-impact protection can come off or fail on impact, turning a manageable fall into a life-altering head injury.

The CPSC fact sheet adds the practical details: it should fit snugly with the chin strap fastened and sit level on your head, not tilted back. That click of the strap buckle is the most important sound you’ll hear before a ride.

Wrist Guards, Knee & Elbow Pads: The CPSC notes wrist guards are “especially important for reducing the risk of fractures.” When you fall, your instinct is to put your hands out. Wrist guards channel that force away from your small wrist bones. Knee and elbow pads prevent the deep, gravel-in-the-skin abrasions that take weeks to heal and hurt every time you bend the joint.

Shoes: Flat-soled skate shoes. Running shoes with cushioned heels and elevated soles throw off your balance and feel disconnected from the board. You need to feel the deck through your feet.

Put it all on, every time. The few minutes it takes to gear up are cheaper than the months of recovery the data shows is likely without them.

Where You Ride Is How You Fall

The studies are unanimous on location. A 2014 analysis of pediatric cases found 75.3% of longboard injuries happened on streets and roads.

This makes your route choice a safety setting. Before you push off, audit your path:

• Surface: Is it smooth asphalt or cracked concrete with pebbles and drain covers?
• Slope: Is it flat, or does it have a grade that will pull you into a speed you can’t control?
• Traffic: Are there driveways, intersections, or parked cars that could pull out?
• Run-off: If you need to bail, is there a grassy shoulder or an open space, or just more pavement and curbs?

The CPSC’s general advice here is golden: ride during the day, never ride alone, and inspect your riding terrain. That last one sounds obvious until you’re doing 20 mph and a stick jams your wheel. Your first few dozen rides should be in empty parking lots or on smooth, closed bike paths. Master stopping and turning at low speed before you ever point the board down a hill.

This progression mirrors the diligence you’d use understanding any new physical skill. The stakes are just higher when your learning ground is shared with cars.

Taming Speed and Wobble: The Physics of Control

Speed feels great until it doesn’t. The moment your board starts shimmying side-to-side, speed wobble, is pure panic. Your weight shifts, the oscillations amplify, and you’re on the ground before your brain can process what’s happening.

The CPSC fact sheet explains the mechanics and how to fight them. Longer boards increase stability. Boards with wider hangers (wheels farther apart) give riders greater control. The wider the wheelbase, the harder it is to induce that deadly oscillation. This is why downhill longboards are long and have wide, precision trucks.

They also list the maintenance fix: keep trucks, wheels, nuts, and mounting screws tightened properly to improve stability at higher speeds. A loose kingpin or wheel nut introduces play, which turns into wobble under speed stress.

If you feel wobble start, the instinct is to stiffen up and fight it. That’s wrong. The CPSC recommends you ride forward and crouch on your board. Crouching lowers your center of gravity, so your legs can absorb the shake like suspension instead of sending it back into the deck. It feels counterintuitive, but leaning into the direction of travel stabilizes the system.

For beginners, the rule is simpler: if you’re gaining speed without trying, you’re on too steep a hill. Step off and walk it. Learning to control speed with foot braking or sliding is an advanced skill. Don’t let the board decide your top speed for the day.

The Electric Question: Onewheel and Hoverboard Warnings

This is where official safety guidance and manufacturer messaging collide directly. The data here isn’t theoretical.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued an urgent warning: “CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using all Onewheel models.” The warning lists the models: Onewheel, Onewheel+, Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, Onewheel Pint X, and Onewheel GT. The reason? An ejection hazard linked to at least four deaths between 2019 and 2021 and multiple serious injuries. The board can stop balancing, throwing the rider at speed.

The manufacturer, Future Motion, objects. Their statement, included in the CPSC release, says “all Onewheel electric skateboards are safe when operated following basic safe riding principles” and they see “no reason for riders to stop using their boards.”

You have a federal safety agency on one side and the company that built the product on the other. When the CPSC says “stop using,” they’ve judged the risk of continued use, even with precautions, to be unacceptable.

For electric skateboards and self-balancing boards, the safety calculus includes battery fire risk and catastrophic motor failure on top of the usual skating hazards. The government data suggests these risks are not fully mitigated by rider skill or gear.

A Safer Start: The Beginner’s Progression Plan

So you want to try longboarding? We should build a foundation that keeps you out of the injury statistics. This process is about sequencing your learning to manage risk, not about buying the right board first.

Week 1-2: The Parking Lot Protocol.

Your goal is building muscle memory, not achieving distance or speed. Find a smooth, empty parking lot.

• Practice pushing, coasting, and foot braking at walking speed.
• Get on and off the board 50 times. Feel how it moves under you.
• Practice falling. Seriously. Tuck and roll onto your padded shoulders and back. Learn to bail without sticking your hands out.

Week 3-4: Controlled Environments.

Move to a paved bike path or quiet residential street with a friend.

• Practice carving gentle turns to control speed.
• Work on looking ahead, not at your feet.
• Start to get a feel for how the board accelerates on slight declines.

Month 2-3: Skill Before Hill.

Only after you’re utterly comfortable stopping and turning should you consider a gentle slope.

• Start with the mildest incline you can find.
• Focus on stance and that speed-wobble crouch.
• Always scout the hill first on foot. Know where the run-out ends.

This slow burn frustrates people. They see others carving hills and want to be there now. Trust the process, especially when you compare a are longboards safe analysis to the reality of skill progression. The data on longboard dangers shows that rushing the fundamentals is exactly how most severe injuries happen. Building control slowly is the fastest way to safe, enjoyable riding.

How often do longboarding injuries happen?

A 2014 study of 824 patients at a trauma center found that 57.5% of injuries involved longboards, compared to 42.5% for skateboards. The same study reported a traumatic brain injury incidence of 30.6% for longboarders, more than double the 12.7% rate for skateboarders. Another study focusing on pediatric injuries found that 23.3% of longboard injuries were to the head and neck, with 8.6% classified as severe neurological trauma. These studies highlight that while longboarding carries inherent risks, head injuries are a significant concern.

Is it safer to ride with others or alone?

General safety advice strongly recommends you never ride alone. Having others with you means help is immediately available if you fall or get injured. This is especially critical given that studies show a high percentage of longboarding injuries occur on streets and roads, away from controlled environments like skate parks. Riding with a group also increases your visibility to drivers and can provide support if you encounter mechanical issues or need to navigate unfamiliar terrain.

How does maintenance affect longboard safety?

Inspecting and adjusting your board before every ride is a fundamental safety step. General guidance states that keeping trucks, wheels, nuts, and mounting screws properly tightened improves stability, especially at higher speeds. Regular checks help you spot worn parts like cracked decks or damaged wheels before they fail. This routine maintenance directly impacts control and can prevent accidents caused by equipment malfunction, making it as crucial as wearing protective gear for a safe ride.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it easier to skate or longboard?

For pure stability and straight-line cruising, longboards are easier to start on. Their longer wheelbase and larger, softer wheels make them more forgiving on rough pavement and less twitchy than a standard skateboard. However, the higher speeds a longboard can reach mean the consequences of a mistake are often more severe, shifting the “easier” label toward skateboarding in a controlled park environment.

What is the fatality rate for skateboarders?

Specific fatality rates for skateboarding alone are complex and less commonly published than injury rates. However, the CPSC warning for Onewheel electric skateboards cites at least four deaths between 2019 and 2021 from ejection hazards alone. Traditional skateboarding fatalities are most often due to collisions with motor vehicles, underscoring why the number one safety rule from experts is to stay clear of traffic.

Are longboards good for beginners?

They can be, with critical caveats. A beginner-friendly longboard is a cruiser or drop-through deck (not a top-mount downhill racer) with a wide wheelbase for stability. The beginner must couple that stable board with a strict commitment to protective gear and a progression plan that avoids hills and traffic entirely until fundamental skills like stopping and turning are automatic. Without that discipline, a longboard’s stability can lure a novice into a false sense of security at unsafe speeds.

How do I choose a safe longboard?

Look for design features that promote stability: a longer deck (40+ inches), a lower ride height (drop-through or drop deck), and a wide truck axle width. Avoid small, flexy pintails if you’re new. Your first board’s job is to be predictable, not nimble. Pair it with soft, large-diameter wheels (70mm+) to roll over cracks and pebbles smoothly. This setup, detailed in our guide on beginner-friendly boards, prioritizes control over performance.

Before You Go

The data doesn’t lie, but it also doesn’t forbid. Longboarding’s risks, higher head injury rates, speed wobble, traffic, are measurable and, more importantly, manageable. The management plan is specific: a certified helmet worn tight, a conscious avoidance of traffic until your skills are bulletproof, and a board chosen for stability over style.

If you take one thing from the PubMed longboard injury study and the CPSC Skateboarding Safety fact sheet, let it be this: the line between a thrilling ride and a trauma center visit is drawn by your preparation. Gear up every single time. Walk the hill before you ride it. And respect the board’s ability to outrun your reflexes.

Your first move should be buying the right helmet, not buying a board. Everything else, the fun, the freedom, the miles of smooth pavement, starts from there.