Study finds e-scooters far more dangerous than motorcycles
Friday 7th August 2026 on 13:45 in
Estonia
Electric scooter riders face a 3.5 times higher risk of serious brain and internal organ injuries than motorcyclists and cyclists, according to a study by UK researchers reported by ERR.
The study analysed hospital data from England and Wales and found that electric scooter riders were nearly 3.5 times more likely than motorcyclists to suffer severe brain trauma. Their risk of serious head injuries was almost twice that of cyclists.
Researchers attributed the higher risk to the design of electric scooters and the lack of protective equipment. Their small wheels and absence of suspension can cause them to catch on kerbs, tram tracks and potholes, bringing the scooter to an abrupt stop and throwing the rider over the handlebars onto the road.
The risk is increased by the rider’s upright position, which raises the centre of gravity and makes it easier to lose balance during sudden braking. A rigid, high handlebar can also strike the abdomen when the scooter stops suddenly.
Compared with motorcyclists, electric scooter riders suffered internal-organ injuries 1.5 times more often and vascular injuries more than three times as often.
Fewer than 6 percent of scooter riders admitted to hospital with serious injuries were wearing head protection at the time of the crash. The study authors said that an unprotected skull absorbs the full force of the impact, which can lead to long-term or irreversible neurological damage.
Young people are heavily represented
Hospital statistics showed that people involved in scooter crashes tend to be young. Children and teenagers accounted for nearly 16 percent of patients with serious scooter injuries, meaning they were involved in crashes while riding electric scooters much more often than in motorcycle or bicycle crashes.
Electric scooters have spread across many European city streets in recent years, presenting trauma specialists with a new challenge as they treat injuries that differ from those seen in earlier traffic crashes.