E-Scooter Study Reveals High Injury Risk for Children

E-scooters pose a significant injury risk to children, according to a study from the Graz University Hospital for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery. Over eight years, the clinic treated nearly 400 young patients for e-scooter-related accidents, with a striking 83 percent of them not wearing helmets at the time of injury.

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E-scooters are not harmless recreational devices.

The comprehensive evaluation, covering 2017 to 2025, documented a total of 620 injuries among 392 young patients. Tragically, one child died from severe injuries sustained in a collision with a car. The study highlighted that more than a third of the children suffered multiple injuries, and one in ten sustained more than three. The head and neck areas, along with the upper extremities, were the most frequently affected.

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There is great potential here to prevent serious injuries.

"E-scooters are not harmless recreational devices," stated Holger Till, head of the clinic and president of the child accident prevention association "Große schützen Kleine." He emphasized that many severe head injuries could likely be less severe if helmets were worn. The forearm was identified as the most vulnerable to fractures. Over seven percent of the children required surgery, and approximately one in six needed hospitalization.

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Our study shows, however, that they are associated with sometimes severe injuries in children and adolescents. The low helmet usage rate was particularly striking.

While most accidents involved falls without other road users, about ten percent were collisions with motor vehicles. The Graz child safety experts strongly recommend helmets for every ride, regardless of age, along with knee, elbow, and wrist protectors. They also advise parents to teach children safe riding practices, including anticipating hazards, maintaining appropriate speeds, and avoiding distractions like mobile phones.

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Many of the severe head injuries would probably be less severe if a helmet was worn.