Greece: Another Child Hospitalized After Scooter Injury; New Incident in Rio

The recent spate of injuries involving electric scooters in Greece, particularly the hospitalization of two children, underscores a growing public safety concern. These incidents, occurring in public areas where children play, have reignited a national debate about the regulation and safe operation of these increasingly popular personal transport devices.

“

This year, in the first 3 months of 2026, the arrivals of minors to children's hospitals of the Attica NSS and the pediatric clinics of the general hospitals of the NSS throughout the country exceed 150 children injured by scooters. Many of them with serious injuries.

The gravity of the situation is amplified by the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy in a scooter accident in Ilia just days prior. This event has sent shockwaves across the country, prompting calls for stricter safety measures and greater public awareness. The fact that these accidents are happening in everyday settings, involving young individuals, makes them particularly distressing for Greek society.

As highlighted by the president of POEDIN, Michalis Giannakos, the statistics are alarming. Over 150 children have been treated for scooter-related injuries in the first three months of 2026 alone, with many suffering severe trauma. Crucially, he noted that none of these injured children were wearing helmets. This lack of protective gear is a recurring theme, raising questions about parental supervision and adherence to safety guidelines.

“

None of them were wearing a helmet.

The legal framework surrounding electric scooter use by minors is also under scrutiny. The ability for children, who may lack basic road safety knowledge, to operate high-speed scooters is seen as a significant risk. The current situation, where children can legally ride scooters capable of reaching 50 km/h without a license or helmet, is widely considered untenable and a direct contributor to the rising number of accidents, including fatalities.

“

Last year, 400 children were transported to hospitals injured from accidents with electric scooters, of which 200 were in the two pediatric hospitals of the NSS of Athens 'Agia Sofia' and 'P. and A. Kyriakou'.