As electric scooters gain popularity in Canada, healthcare professionals are raising concerns about the increasing number of injuries, particularly among younger individuals, as regulations struggle to keep up with the trend.
Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto and chair of the injury prevention committee for the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), has observed a significant surge in various types of injuries resulting from e-scooter accidents, ranging from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities.
Previously rare, severe injuries are now becoming more common, with a notable escalation in e-scooter-related cases at SickKids, rising from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025, according to Rosenfield, who anticipates even higher numbers for the current year.
Similarly, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Dr. Laurie Plotnick, leading the emergency trauma team, noted a tenfold increase in e-scooter injuries since 2023, with children sustaining serious facial injuries, broken jaws, and skull fractures in non-motor vehicle accidents.
A recent survey conducted by the CPS revealed alarming statistics, documenting 10 fatalities, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations lasting over two days due to e-scooter crashes in the past year, with head injuries prevalent in about half of the cases. Rosenfield emphasized that the majority of these cases involved individuals not wearing helmets, with the most severe injuries predominantly affecting boys aged between 10 and 15.
In a parallel study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal, data from three UK hospitals showed a substantial increase in e-scooter-related hospitalizations, emphasizing head injuries as one of the most severe outcomes, with less than two percent of injured individuals wearing helmets.
The real-life impact of e-scooter accidents was vividly portrayed by Crystal Dunkley from London, Ontario, whose son Shawn, aged 12, suffered a fractured skull and brain trauma after colliding with a raccoon at a reported speed of 69 km/h while riding an e-scooter without a helmet. Shawn’s remarkable recovery after spending time in critical care underscores the importance of helmet use for e-scooter riders.
Dr. Rosenfield highlighted the misconception of e-scooters as toys, emphasizing their high speed capabilities and the necessity for stringent regulations to address safety concerns, particularly for younger riders who may be less familiar with road rules and more prone to risks due to their developmental stage.
The survey also pointed out the lack of clarity and uniformity in regulations across provinces, contributing to the challenges in enforcing safety measures for e-scooter riders. Public education, parental awareness, clear product messaging, and enhanced enforcement were cited as crucial elements to mitigate the escalating e-scooter injury trend.
While advocating for the continued use of e-scooters to enhance urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion, Dr. Rosenfield stressed the need to prioritize safety measures to ensure the responsible and safe utilization of these devices in the community.