Injuries among children from e-scooters requiring hospital treatment have been increasing in Ireland despite a ban on their use by under-16s, according to a new study.
Research by doctors at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street in Dublin found there has been “a clear and concerning rise” in e-scooter-related injuries among paediatric patients at the hospital since the introduction of legislation governing their use in May 2024, reports Breaking News.
The study, which examined 98 cases of children who sustained e-scooter-related injuries requiring orthopaedic consultation at CHI at Temple Street between January 2020 and August 2025, said its findings mirrored data on similar injuries involving adults.
It claimed its findings suggested that regulation of e-scooters without enforcement “may have limited impact on paediatric safety,” reports Breaking News.
The study revealed that 37 children suffered an e-scooter-related injury in the first eight months of 2025, compared to 12 for all of 2024.
It found there was also a 27% increase in the number of injuries per patient since the legislation was introduced, reports Breaking News.
The average age of patients was 12 years old, while the youngest victim was just three, who was being carried as a passenger on an e-scooter.
Boys accounted for approximately three-quarters of all cases, reports Breaking News.
Almost 60% of cases required surgery with an average hospital stay of 2.6 days, with one child remaining in hospital for 10 weeks.
Five patients required admission to the hospital’s intensive care unit with traumatic brain injuries, with four requiring emergency neurosurgery, reports Breaking News.
Of those, three had to be transferred to another hospital, including one via air ambulance.
The analysis found 23 children had sustained either a head strike or a loss of consciousness, with 16 diagnosed with head injuries including skull fractures, haemorrhages and lacerations, reports Breaking News.
Two patients were recorded as being under the influence of cannabis, while one was texting while riding.
One of the study’s authors, Dr Finian Doyle from CHI at Temple Street’s Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, said it was concerning that all patients in the study fell outside the legal age requirement for using e-scooters, which he said highlighted “widespread non-compliance,” reports Breaking News.
The study found evidence of further breaches, with some cases involving passengers and speeds in excess of the permitted 20 km/h limit.
It revealed that 88% of patients were travelling above the legal limit, with the fastest reported speed of 64 km/h, reports Breaking News.
Researchers said helmet compliance was extremely low, with only three of the patients confirmed to be wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
No head injuries were reported among those who had been wearing helmets, reports Breaking News.
The research found 46% of patients suffered an upper limb injury, with 31% sustaining a lower limb injury.
Injuries to the head and neck occurred in 16.5% of cases, with chest injuries recorded in 4% and spinal injuries in 2%, reports Breaking News.
The study, published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science, said the growing burden of e-scooter-related injuries aligned with international findings and underscored their potential to significantly impact healthcare services as use becomes more widespread.
It also observed that regulation of e-scooters may have unintentionally increased uptake, as their previous illegality on public roads may have deterred some users, reports Breaking News.
Dr Doyle said the research was undertaken as data on paediatric injuries from e-scooters was sparse, even though doctors across various specialities including neurosurgery and emergency medicine had reported an anecdotal rise in such injuries.
The study noted that a Road Safety Authority survey last year found 24% of e-scooter users had been involved in a collision, with a further 32% reporting a near miss, reports Breaking News.
The study said there had already been three child fatalities since legislation governing e-scooter use was introduced two years ago, with multiple cases of severe or life-changing injuries.
It also observed that the Injuries Resolution Board reported that road traffic incidents involving e-scooters and cyclists accounted for over €9 million in compensation claims in 2023, with 13% of cases involving victims aged under 18, reports Breaking News.
Dr Doyle acknowledged the research provided only a local snapshot of paediatric trauma from e-scooter use and remarked that the true number of e-scooters in circulation is unknown, making national injury rates impossible to determine accurately.
The study recommended targeted public information campaigns and consistent enforcement of existing regulations as “essential to reduce preventable harm,” adding: “Without such measures, the burden of paediatric e-scooter trauma is likely to continue to rise,” reports Breaking News.
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