477 children have been injured by e-scooters between 2019 and 2024, according to a new study from three major trauma centres in the United Kingdom
The number of injuries involving e-scooters and children has increased more than fifteenfold in recent years, prompting doctors to call for regulation and public health communication, according to a study published on 11 August
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Researchers at the emergency department of Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, United Kingdom (UK), analysed data from the three centres between January 2019 and December 2024
During this period, the overall number of cases rose from fewer than 10 in 2019 to nearly 150 in 2024
Of the 477 children treated at the three centres, 95% of the injuries were sustained by the rider, while 5% involved pedestrians
The most common cause was a fall from the e-scooter, which accounted for 75% and nearly 11.5% were caused by a collision with a vehicle, while 5% involved pedestrians hit by an e-scooter
Around one in four were head injuries and nearly one in five were facial injuries. But less than 2% of riders were reported to be wearing a helmet at the time of the incident
The level of hospital care required for these injuries was substantial. 64.5% of the injured children required some form of imaging such as X-rays, computed tomography, or ultrasound scans. 13.5% were admitted while 7% required surgery
The injured children were 12 years old on average, and nearly two-thirds were boys
In the UK, there is no minimum age for using a private e-scooter on private land, while riders of rental e-scooters generally need to be at least 16 and hold a driving licence. However, 80% of incidents in the study involved a private e-scooter
The study also pointed out that 74% of the injured children lived in areas of greatest social and economic disadvantage
Researchers say children and teens are likely to be novice road users and to take more risks, and therefore road safety campaigns targeting them are needed
“Utilising approaches like educational campaigns, such as bicycle safety schemes targeted to e-scooter riders, could be beneficial and have been shown to improve riders’ safety behaviour,” researchers wrote in the study
Researchers view the surge in the number of injuries as a sign of an ‘emerging public health challenge’ and urge clearer public health messaging and a review of government legislation
“There must be an onus on retailers to clearly advise customers of the law, and policymakers to regulate private e-scooters, such as with speed limiters, or mandate helmet use,” they wrote in the study
“We urgently need to increase public and clinician awareness, have clearer public health messaging, and a review of government legislation to prevent further injuries and deaths,” they added
The findings come as governments and cities across Europe are reassessing how e-scooters should be regulated amid broader safety and public-space concerns
On the day the study was published, the French capital Paris tightened rules on electric scooters and other rideables. In July, the German government proposed a bill to make rental companies such as Lime and Bolt directly liable for accidents involving their vehicles
Madrid withdrew operators’ licences in 2024 over failures to control riding and parking
Prague removed shared e-scooters from its streets in January 2026, and Brussels plans to follow in January 2027
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