E-scooter riders face a significantly elevated risk of severe injuries, particularly to the brain and internal organs, compared to those on bicycles or motorcycles, new analysis suggests.
The study also highlighted that over one in ten e-scooter users were children, who were found to be more susceptible to injury, while helmet use remained "rare" among all riders.
The comprehensive research revealed that e-scooter users were 3.5 times more likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury than motorcyclists, 1.5 times more prone to internal organ damage, and 3.2 times more at risk of arterial or venous injuries. Against cyclists, these risks were 1.7, 1.4, and 1.7 times higher respectively. Fracture risk, however, was found to be lower for e-scooter riders.
Despite government-backed trial schemes operating in major UK cities such as Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, and several London boroughs, privately owned e-scooters remain illegal on public roads. Researchers noted their "increasingly used" status, highlighting a lack of comprehensive data on injury patterns, severity, and exposure-adjusted risk.
The study, led by surgeon David Bodansky and published in the journal Scientific Reports, meticulously analysed data from 15,247 patients recorded on the National Major Trauma Registry. This cohort included 580 e-scooter riders, alongside over 7,000 motorcyclists and 7,740 cyclists, all of whom had sustained moderate to severe injuries in incidents across 18 cities in England and Wales between 2020 and 2022.
The findings indicated that over one in ten e-scooter riders were children, who were more likely to be injured. While 87.9 per cent of e-scooter riders involved in incidents were adults, helmet usage was documented in only 5.9 per cent, contrasting sharply with approximately three-quarters of motorcyclists and 45 per cent of cyclists. The analysis also highlighted a gender disparity, with women 2.1 times more likely to suffer severe injuries, while men had a 36 per cent lower crash risk.
The research, which also incorporated an analysis of more than 23,000 self-reported e-scooter collisions and near misses, revealed previously under-explored trends and socioeconomic factors, such as a higher incidence of accidents in more deprived regions. Experts stressed the need for "policies that address the sociodemographic determinants of e-scooter safety to prevent avoidable harm."
Latest figures from the Department for Transport underscore the rising number of incidents, with 1,312 e-scooter collisions recorded in 2024, an increase from 1,292 in 2023. These incidents resulted in 1,390 casualties and six fatalities.
As researchers noted, "Electric scooters have evolved rapidly from novelty devices to a common form of urban mobility," urging that "embedding rigorous public health evidence into forthcoming UK legislation will be critical to ensure that the benefits of micromobility are realised while minimising avoidable harm."
A Department for Transport spokesperson acknowledged the findings, stating: "These are concerning findings, and our thoughts are with anyone who has been injured on our roads. Road safety is our top priority, which is why our e-scooter trials are testing their use in a controlled environment now, before updating the law to ensure they can be used safely more widely."
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