KIDSE-scooters are unsafe for children to ride
Is this true? Make your call, then see what the science says.
Short answer: Yes. The evidence supports this.
Child health guidance is clear that e-scooters carry a real risk of serious injury, and children are at higher risk. Most of the injury data comes from the general population, not children alone, so it shows the danger rather than exact rates for kids.
AI-generated summary of the research cited · not reviewed by a medical professional · checked 19 October 2026 · How we checkWhat the research found
Child health guidance in Australia and the US is consistent. Falls, crashes and collisions with cars can cause broken bones, head injuries and facial injuries. Children are at higher risk because they have less road safety experience. It is illegal for children under 16 to ride e-scooters in Victoria, and US paediatric advice also says under-16s should not ride them.
Hospital studies show a clear injury burden. A New Zealand review found 14 e-scooter presentations in the two years before hire scooters arrived in Wellington, then 295 in the two years after. One hundred and seventeen patients had 145 fractures. A facial fracture study found 34 of 849 cases were from e-scooters. Half of those injured were intoxicated and one-quarter wore helmets.
US figures cited in paediatric guidance estimate 79,300 e-scooter injuries treated in emergency departments in 2024, nearly double 2021. More than 100 deaths have been reported since 2017. Victorian guidance on scooters generally says research suggests helmets cut head injury risk by up to 90 per cent.
What it doesn’t mean
- The hospital studies were not limited to children, and injury counts do not show how risky e-scooters are compared with bikes or other transport.
- Risk is not the same for every rider. Helmets, supervision, speed, rough surfaces and traffic all matter, and rules about age and helmets differ by state.
- If your child has a fall with a knock to the head, a suspected broken bone or a facial injury, see a doctor or go to an emergency department.
Sources
General information only, not medical advice. KIDS fact-checks are generated by AI from published research and are not reviewed by doctors or other health professionals. They can be wrong or out of date. Always talk to your GP or child’s doctor about your child, and call 000 in an emergency. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
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