E-scooters cause more traumatic injuries than motorcycles

While electric scooter usage is on the rise, so are the risks.

A new study suggests that e-scooters are ‘three times riskier’ than motorcycles and bikes when it comes to traumatic injuries to vital organs.

Data has shown that e-scooter users were 3.5 times more likely to suffer a brain injury, 1.5 times more likely to injure internal organs, and 3.2 times more likely to damage arteries or veins.

In comparison, the risk was 1.7, 1.4, and 1.7 times higher, respectively, for cyclists.

The stats were concluded from an expert study led by surgeon David Bodansky. The sample involved analysing 15,247 patients in the National Major Trauma Registry, including 580 e-scooter riders, more than 7,000 motorcyclists, and 7,740 cyclists.

What’s more, women riding e-scooters are 2.1 times more likely to be seriously injured than men, and 1 in 10 riders were children, who were also more susceptible to serious harm.

These stats came from a separate analysis of more than 23,000 self-reported collisions and near misses.

Despite the figures, just 5.9% of e-scooter riders were found to be wearing a helmet, which is in stark contrast to around 75% of motorcyclists and 45% of cyclists. Helmets can significantly reduce the risk of head injuries and long-term brain damage in the event of an impact.

Interestingly, however, fracture risk for e-scooter riders was 20% lower than it was for motorcyclists and 10% lower than for cyclists.

Nevertheless, experts are continuing to monitor the use of e-scooters long-term, as government trial schemes offer them for rent in various cities.

Researchers have said that, while usage is ‘increasing’ across the UK, there is still little evidence about ‘injury patterns, severity, and exposure-adjusted risk’.

Are e-scooters illegal?

It is illegal to ride a privately owned electric scooter in public (on pavements, on roads or in parks); however, scooters rented out by government-backed companies, such as Voi, Bolt, and Neuron, are permitted for public use.

Those renting scooters must be aged 18 or over and hold a provisional licence.

Rental e-scooters must be used by just one person at a time.

As for private scooters, they can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission.

Violating the rules can lead to police seizing and crushing scooters and handing out fines.

As of July 2026, more than 2,5000 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters have been confiscated by the Metropolitan Police alone this year, which is already double that of the whole of 2025.

Speaking in February, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that the government was planning to introduce new regulations around e-scooter use.

This would cover speed limits and safety features like lights and brakes.

That being said, while police forces have maintained that rules are being enforced, they have also faced criticism for failing to tackle antisocial e-scooter use.

How dangerous are e-scooters?

The latest Department for Transport data found there were 1,312 collisions involving e-scooters across England, Scotland, and Wales in 2024.

Of these, 306 included only one e-scooter and no other vehicles, a number that was 284 in 2023.

Additionally, there were 1,390 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters in 2024, compared to 1,387 in 2023.

Finally, six people were killed in e-scooter collisions in 2024. Five of them were riders.

Consequently, researchers stressed the need for ’embedding rigorous public health evidence into forthcoming UK legislation’ to minimise ‘avoidable harm’.

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