Authorities have urged parents not to buy e-scooters for children ahead of Christmas, warning of a “worrying” rise in brain injuries linked to their use, reports Breaking News.
It is illegal for anyone under 16 to ride an e-scooter on a public road, yet they have become the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in children admitted to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Temple Street, the national neurosurgical centre.
E-scooter-related brain injuries now account for more than 25 per cent of paediatric neurosurgical admissions at Temple Street. Around half of these children required intensive care, and almost half underwent emergency neurosurgery, with some suffering permanent disabilities, reports Breaking News.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and CHI have launched a radio advert to deter parents from buying e-scooters for children. Consultant paediatrician Dr Irwin Gill, who treats many of these cases, said: “In the last year alone, we’ve seen more than 20 children who sustained serious brain injuries after falling from e-scooters. The average hospital stay for these children was 19 days, and some face lifelong consequences. As someone who sees injured children far too often, I’m asking parents: please do not allow any child under sixteen to ride an e-scooter,” reports Breaking News.
Research from the RSA shows growing public concern about e-scooter safety. One in three regular riders admit to riding on footpaths, more than one in ten report carrying child passengers, and nearly one in ten carry adult passengers. Almost a quarter of riders have been involved in a collision, while a third have experienced a near miss.
Since e-scooter legislation came into effect in May 2024, allowing use on Irish roads under certain conditions, hospitals have reported an increase in serious injuries among young riders. RSA chief executive Sam Waide described the findings as “deeply concerning,” reports Breaking News.
“E-scooters are not toys — they are powerful motorised vehicles and the risks for children are severe. Our message is simple: if your child is under 16, an e-scooter is not a suitable or legal gift. This campaign is about protecting children from preventable harm and ensuring every parent understands the potential consequences,” reports Breaking News.
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