Electric scooters (e-scooters) have become an increasingly common way to get around cities. They can be convenient, affordable and an alternative to driving for shorter trips. But as their use grows, so does the need to understand the potential for serious injury.
A new study published in Scientific Reports examined injury patterns among e-scooter riders, motorcyclists and cyclists in England and Wales. The researchers found that among people who experienced moderate to severe injuries, e-scooter riders had a notably higher proportion of traumatic brain injuries and certain internal injuries than the other groups.
What did the study find?
Researchers analyzed more than 15,000 patients recorded in the National Major Trauma Registry between 2020 and 2022. The group included 580 e-scooter riders, more than 7,000 motorcyclists and more than 7,000 cyclists.
They found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) accounted for more than one-third of injuries among adult e-scooter riders in the trauma registry.
After adjusting for age and the overall number of injuries, the researchers found that traumatic brain injury was:
- 3.45 times as common among injured e-scooter riders as among injured motorcyclists
- 1.74 times as common among injured e-scooter riders as among injured cyclists
E-scooter riders also had higher relative rates of internal organ and vascular injuries, while fractures were less common than among motorcyclists and cyclists.
The researchers also examined more than 23,000 incidents reported through a major rental e-scooter operator. These reports represented more than 33 million rides and approximately 77.8 million kilometres travelled across 18 cities.
An important distinction
These findings should not be interpreted as meaning that an e-scooter trip is 3.45 times more likely to result in a brain injury than a motorcycle trip.
The trauma registry data describe the pattern of injuries among people who experienced moderate to severe trauma. They do not provide a direct comparison of the likelihood of being injured per trip or per kilometre between e-scooters, motorcycles and bicycles.
This distinction is important when interpreting headlines about e-scooters being “more dangerous” than other forms of transportation.
What the study does show is that when serious injuries occur, e-scooter riders can experience a different pattern of trauma — with the head and internal organs appearing particularly vulnerable.
Why might e-scooters cause serious head injuries?
An e-scooter may look relatively small and lightweight compared with a motorcycle, but riders are still travelling at significant speeds while standing on a narrow platform.
E-scooters also have relatively small wheels. A pothole, curb, uneven surface or other obstacle can cause the front wheel to stop suddenly while the rider’s body continues moving forward. This can result in a fall onto the road or a forward projection over the handlebars.
When the head strikes the ground or another object, the result can be a concussion, traumatic brain injury or other serious head injury.
The study also found that helmet use among seriously injured e-scooter riders was uncommon. Only about 6% of e-scooter riders in the trauma registry were recorded as wearing helmets, compared with 45% of cyclists and 76% of motorcyclists.
Why this matters in British Columbia
Although this study took place in England and Wales, its findings are relevant to communities where e-scooters are becoming more common.
In British Columbia, electric kick scooters are currently permitted on public roads in participating communities through a provincial pilot project. These include several communities in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, as well as communities elsewhere in the province. Riders must be at least 16 years old and are required to wear an approved safety helmet.
As e-scooter use expands, understanding the potential consequences of crashes is an important part of brain-injury prevention.
Prevention matters
A helmet cannot prevent every e-scooter crash, and it cannot eliminate the possibility of a brain injury. However, taking precautions can help reduce the risk and severity of injuries.
If you ride an e-scooter:
- Wear an approved helmet every time you ride.
- Learn how to safely accelerate, brake and turn before riding in traffic.
- Be especially cautious around potholes, curbs, uneven surfaces and other obstacles.
- Follow local traffic laws and posted signs.
- Avoid riding while distracted or impaired.
- Slow down when road or weather conditions make riding more difficult.
- Never carry a passenger unless the device and local rules specifically permit it.
For people who experience a crash, it is also important to recognize that a head injury may not always be immediately obvious. Symptoms of concussion or other brain injuries can appear immediately or develop over time.
If you or someone you know has experienced a significant impact to the head, seek appropriate medical attention and take symptoms seriously.
The bigger picture
E-scooters are not inherently “bad,” and millions of trips take place without serious injury. They can provide a useful transportation option for many people.
At the same time, their small size can make them appear less risky than they actually are. This new research highlights why brain-injury prevention needs to keep pace with changing forms of transportation.
As e-scooters become more common in our communities, safer infrastructure, responsible riding, helmet use and greater awareness of the signs and potential consequences of brain injury all have a role to play.
The takeaway isn’t that people should never use e-scooters. It’s that we should take the risks seriously — particularly the risk of head injury — and take steps to reduce them.
Learn More
Kungwengwe, G., Gach, M.W., Gowda, S. et al. E-scooter riders sustain more head and internal injuries than motorcyclists and cyclists in England and Wales. Sci Rep 16, 23470 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-59829-5
For information about electric kick scooter rules and safety in British Columbia, visit the Government of B.C.’s Electric kick scooter rules and safety page.
