E-scooter injuries are on the rise in Canada, with experts cautioning about the escalating severity of these incidents, particularly among younger individuals, as regulations struggle to keep up. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto and chair of the injury prevention committee for the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), has noted a significant increase in the range of injuries resulting from e-scooter accidents, from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities.
In recent years, the number of e-scooter injury cases at SickKids has surged, from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025, with projections indicating a further increase. Similarly, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, e-scooter-related injuries have multiplied tenfold since 2023, according to Dr. Laurie Plotnick, who leads the hospital’s emergency trauma team.
A survey conducted by the CPS among Canadian pediatric specialists revealed alarming statistics, documenting 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations lasting over two days due to e-scooter crashes in the previous year, with head injuries prevalent in about half of the cases. The survey highlighted the lack of helmet use in these incidents, with the most severe injuries predominantly affecting boys aged 10 to 15.
In a parallel trend observed in the U.K., hospital data from Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield showed a significant uptick in e-scooter cases, rising from under 10 in 2019 to nearly 150 in 2024, with head injuries being among the most severe, and a low percentage of injured individuals wearing helmets.
These concerning trends underscore the urgent need for enhanced regulations and public awareness regarding e-scooter safety. Experts emphasize the critical importance of wearing helmets and adhering to speed limits, as well as the necessity for clearer and more consistent regulatory frameworks across provinces and territories to mitigate the risks associated with e-scooter use.