Emergency department doctors at three major UK trauma centers are raising alarm about a significant increase in e-scooter-related injuries among children, according to a new review. The Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield centers have collectively treated 477 patients under the age of 16 from 2019 onward, with the annual caseload climbing substantially over that period—starting at fewer than 10 cases in 2019 and reaching approximately 150 cases in 2024.
The injured children had an average age of 12 years, with cases involving children as young as nine. A notable pattern emerged from the data: half of all injured children fell between ages 10 and 13, and nearly two-thirds were boys. Alarmingly, hardly any of the injured children were wearing helmets at the time of their incidents. The most frequent injuries affected the arms and legs, with head and facial injuries being the second most common category. The predominant cause of injury was falling off the e-scooter, though approximately 11% of cases involved collisions with vehicles, which tended to be associated with more severe harm. Only 5% of the injured were pedestrians struck by e-scooters.
The medical professionals are advocating for stronger legal protections, noting that the UK currently has no age restrictions, mandatory speed limits, or safety equipment requirements for the estimated 1.2 million private e-scooter owners. Some models feature a turbo mode capability that allows speeds around 28mph. A fatal incident involving a teenager highlights the stakes: a 14-year-old passenger suffered irreversible brain injuries in a collision on 19 March 2025, and 59 deaths involving e-scooters have been recorded in the UK to date.
Most injuries occurred while using private e-scooters on public roads, pavements, or footpaths—uses that are technically illegal. The doctors, writing to the Emergency Medicine Journal, argue that schools, local councils, youth groups, and road safety campaigns should all participate in addressing the issue. They call for regulatory measures including speed limiters and mandatory helmet use, along with retailer responsibility in educating customers about legal requirements. A Department for Transport spokesperson acknowledged the concerning findings and stated that new laws are being developed to make e-scooter use safe and legal.
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