Number of children injured in e-scooter crashes in England surges
Summary
The number of children injured in e-scooter crashes in England has risen sharply, with many accidents involving children as young as nine. Most injuries happened on public roads or parks, even though privately owned e-scooters are only legal on private land.Key Facts
- Researchers studied injuries to children under 16 at three UK hospitals from 2019 to 2024.
- The average age of injured children was 12, and about 65% were boys.
- Most common injuries were to arms and legs, then head and face; less than 2% wore helmets.
- There were 477 recorded e-scooter injuries in the three hospitals, with numbers increasing over time.
- Over 80% of injuries were from private e-scooters used illegally on public land.
- Private e-scooters can only be legally ridden on private property, but about 1.2 million people own them in England.
- Rental e-scooters are legal for people age 16 and older, limited to 15 mph, and must have insurance.
- A 15-year-old was sentenced after causing a fatal crash involving a 14-year-old passenger on an e-scooter.
- Officials and campaigns urge better education on e-scooter risks and call for stricter rules like helmet mandates and speed limits.
- The UK government is planning new laws to make e-scooter use safer and legal on public roads.
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