The number of children in England requiring hospital treatment for injuries sustained while riding electronic scooters has surged more than 20-fold since 2019, according to research by British doctors. The study found at least 477 children have been injured by e-scooters in the past six years, with dozens needing surgical intervention.
Researchers warned that children as young as 10 are increasingly using privately purchased e-scooters, some of which can be modified to reach speeds of up to 70 mph. Data collected from UK children's hospitals indicates that fewer than 2% of e-scooter riders wear helmets.
The findings coincide with separate analysis revealing that 59 Britons have died in incidents involving e-scooters since 2019. One notable case involved 14-year-old Jacob Calland, who died last year after a friend riding an e-scooter in 'turbo mode' was involved in a collision.
Since July 2020, e-scooters have been available for rent to individuals over 16 as part of a government-backed trial in cities including London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham. These rental e-scooters are permitted on cycle lanes and roads, but not on motorways or pavements, and are restricted to a maximum speed of approximately 15.5 mph.
Despite these regulations, it remains illegal to operate privately owned e-scooters on public pavements or roads. These devices have been available for purchase from UK retailers since 2018, with some models costing over £1,000. While sales are legal, vendors are obligated to provide customers with accurate information regarding legal restrictions on their use.
The new research analyzed injury data from January 2019 to December 2024, collected from Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, and Sheffield Children's Hospital. The study suggests the national injury toll could be significantly higher, given the limited number of hospitals included in the analysis.
In 2019, only five e-scooter injuries were recorded across two of the participating hospitals. By 2024, this figure had risen to 149 across the three hospitals. During the six-year study period, the average age of the 477 injured children was 12. Most injuries occurred to the driver, affecting limbs, the head, and the face. Thirty-three children required surgery, and 64 were admitted to the hospital.
Data indicated that three-quarters of the affected children came from the most deprived areas. In Sheffield, where no rental trial scheme operates, all injuries were believed to involve private scooters. Similarly, in Liverpool and Manchester, only three injuries were linked to rental scooters, implying that the vast majority of incidents involved privately owned devices.
Authors of the study called for increased public and clinician awareness, clearer public health messaging, and a review of government legislation. They also stressed that retailers should bear responsibility for informing customers about legal regulations and ensuring safety in the design of private e-scooters.
A Department for Transport spokesperson acknowledged the concerning findings and expressed sympathy for those injured. The department stated that it is introducing new laws to ensure the safe and legal use of e-scooters, including consultations on requirements such as helmets. It reiterated that private e-scooters are illegal for use on roads, pavements, and other public spaces by individuals under 16.
Carly Calland, mother of Jacob Calland, has launched an awareness campaign following her son's death. Jacob sustained severe brain injuries in a collision involving an e-scooter in Manchester in March 2025 and died eight days later. The driver of the e-scooter, a 15-year-old friend, received an 18-month rehabilitation order after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. The e-scooter was reportedly in a 'turbo mode' setting, reaching speeds up to 28 mph, when it ran through a red light and collided with a car.