Children as young as nine hurt in growing number of e-scooter crashes

A surge in e-scooter accidents involving young children has been identified by hospitals in Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield, according to a recent analysis. Between 2019 and 2024, trauma centres treated 477 individuals under the age of 16, with the average age being just 12 years old. Shockingly, the youngest victim was just nine years old.

A vast majority of these injuries occurred without helmets, as only a minuscule percentage of the injured wore protective gear. Medical professionals are urging for stricter regulations to safeguard children, as the UK currently lacks any legal age limit, speed restrictions, or mandatory safety equipment for these popular, privately-owned devices.

Individuals owning e-scooters are not subject to any legal constraints, including a speed cap or helmet requirement. The estimated one and a half million private e-scooter owners exacerbate the issue, with some devices capable of reaching speeds of around 28mph. Tragically, one such incident resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy and serious injury to his 15-year-old friend when their e-scooter was struck by a car in Manchester on March 19, 2025.

Police emphasized that e-scooters are not child-friendly toys and can result in severe consequences for inexperienced riders. Most accidents occurred on public roads, pavements, or footpaths, even though private e-scooters are meant for use on private property with the owner's permission. The majority of injured individuals were between 10 and 13 years old, with a higher proportion being male.

The majority of injuries were sustained by the rider, with around 11% being caused by collisions with vehicles. Arm and leg injuries were the most prevalent, followed by head or facial injuries. Advocates argue that tougher laws are urgently required, including helmet use, speed limiters, and mandatory compliance by retailers. They stress that schools, local councils, youth groups, and road safety campaigns all have a role to play in addressing this growing problem.