Number of children injured in e-scooter crashes in England surges
Calls for speed limiters or mandated helmet use after research into injuries at three paediatric trauma centres The number of children involved in crashes on e-scooters has soared in recent years, with some as young as nine involved in collisions, research has found. Researchers carried out a review of injuries among the under-16s at three specialist paediatric trauma centres – Alder Hey in…
A surge in e-scooter crashes involving children has been identified in England, prompting calls for stricter regulations on speed and helmet use. Researchers from three paediatric trauma centres in Liverpool, Sheffield, and Manchester examined injuries among children under 16, finding that the average age of those involved in e-scooter collisions was 12.
Almost 65% of the injured were male, with the most common injuries occurring to the limbs, followed by head and facial injuries. Only 2% of patients had been wearing a helmet. The youngest victim was just nine years old, while most injuries (up to 1.2 million in England) were sustained on private e-scooters, which are often ridden illegally on public land.
The researchers recommend implementing speed limiters or mandating helmet use, as well as increasing awareness among retailers and policymakers. A tragic case involving a 15-year-old boy who caused the death of a 14-year-old friend on an e-scooter has galvanized a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of e-scooter use.
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