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

Children as young as nine hurt in growing number of e-scooter crashes Most of the incidents occurred in Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield, involving private e‑scooters ridden on roads, pavements or footpaths despite such use being illegal. Private e‑scooters are intended solely for use on private land with the owner’s permission. Half of the injured children were aged between 10 and 13, and nearly two‑thirds were boys. The majority of injuries were sustained by the riders – only 5 % were pedestrians struck by an e‑scooter – with the most common cause being a fall from the vehicle. Around 11 % of the injuries resulted from collisions with a motor vehicle, a circumstance often linked to more serious harm. Injuries to the arms and legs were the most frequent, followed by head or facial trauma. Medical professionals urged that stricter legislation is urgently needed, noting that helmet use is not compulsory in the UK, unlike in several other countries. Some observers characterised the private e‑scooter scene in the UK as a “Wild West” with few riders observing any rules. Researchers speaking to the Emergency Medicine Journal said schools, local councils, youth groups and road‑safety campaigns each have a part to play. They added: “Clearly, reporting these accidents is important to power and alter policy, but there must also be an onus on retailers to clearly counsel customers of the law, and policymakers to regulate private e‑scooters, such as with speed limiters, or mandate helmet use,” they say. To legally rent an e‑scooter in the UK, which may be used on roads and cycle lanes, a rider must be at least 16 years old and hold a full or provisional driving licence, while the rental operator must provide appropriate insurance. Rental e‑scooters typically have a limited top speed of about 15 mph. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “These are concerning findings, and our thoughts are with anyone who has been injured connected our roads. “It is amerciable for backstage e‑scooters to be used connected roads, pavements oregon successful different nationalist spaces, including by nether 16s, and we're bringing guardant caller laws to marque their usage harmless and legal, including consulting on requirements similar helmets.”