Doctors from British Colombia, Canada, have recently issued warnings regarding the rising in e-scooter injuries among children and teenagers. British Columbia Children`s Hospital recorded no less than 81 emergencies tied to e-scooter use starting April 1 2025 to March 31, 2026.
The biggest concern is age. Provincial rules say riders must be at least 16, yet B.C. Children’s says the largest share of emergency visits, 54 per cent, involved children aged 13 to 15. Many of these young riders should not have been operating e-scooters at all under current rules.
Dr. Shelina Babul, director of the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit at the hospital, said many parents are not clear on who should be using them. “I think there’s a lack of understanding, lack of education around who should be riding e-scooters,” she said.
The injuries are not limited to small cuts. Hospital data shows 35 per cent of the emergency visits involved fractures. Another 26 per cent involved bruises and abrasions, while 17 per cent involved concussions. Babul also pointed to unsafe riding habits, especially speed and helmet use. “Speed is the biggest factor and not wearing a helmet. Just yesterday I saw someone on their e-scooter with their helmet in their backpack.”
B.C. is currently testing electric kick scooters on public roads through a four-year pilot program. The program includes 36 communities, among them Vancouver, Burnaby, Victoria, Kelowna, and Prince George. Riders in those areas must be at least 16, wear a helmet, and use an e-scooter limited to 25 km/h. Rule breakers risk a $109 fine, impoundment, or other penalties.
Police have already begun taking action in some cases. Last week, a 12-year-old in North Vancouver went to hospital with minor injuries after riding an e-scooter and colliding with a car. Police said the child’s guardian received a ticket for allowing someone under 16 to operate the vehicle.
North Vancouver RCMP Cpl. Mansoor Sahak said police, first responders, and medical workers have warned families about the risks. “Police, first responders, and medical professionals have been raising the alarm on the dangers of e-scooters and the serious injuries they could cause,” he said. “While police continue to educate, enforcement actions have increased and we are holding parents accountable.”
Fraser Health is also seeing more e-scooter injuries, although officials say tracking the full scale is difficult. Dr. Emily Newhouse said emergency records are built for patient care, not statistics. Her warning to parents was direct: “We wouldn’t necessarily give our kids a gas motorcycle but we’re giving kids devices that are quite powerful.”
