E-Scooter Injuries Surge in Canada, Experts Urge Caution

Hospitalizations due to injuries from scooters and e-scooters have significantly increased in Canada, prompting health experts to caution against treating these vehicles as mere toys. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported that nearly 1,000 people were hospitalized for scooter-related injuries during the twelve-month period starting April 1, 2023. This figure represents a rise from 810 hospitalizations during the same period in 2022-23.

Approximately half of these injuries—498—were associated with motorized e-scooters, indicating a sharp increase of 32 percent from the 375 hospitalizations recorded in the previous year. Tanya Khan, manager of hospital data advancement and engagement at CIHI in Montreal, emphasized that many unintentional injuries related to e-scooters are predictable and preventable.

Severity of Injuries Raises Concerns

Emergency physicians have expressed alarm at the severity of injuries sustained from e-scooter accidents. Patients often present with brain, facial, and dental trauma, as well as fractures that may require multiple surgeries or traumatic brain injuries that necessitate intensive care. In some instances, injuries occur when a rider is struck by a vehicle, while others result from collisions with pedestrians.

At Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, the situation has escalated dramatically. The hospital reported just one e-scooter injury in 2020, but the number surged to 46 by 2024. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids, noted that in May alone, the hospital recorded 16 scooter-related injuries, compared to three or fewer during the same month in previous years.

Rosenfield explained that injuries can vary widely, from minor bumps and fractures to severe head injuries and internal bleeding requiring a comprehensive trauma response. He stated, “This can be anything from just one or two surgeries to full recovery, to lifelong injuries needing rehabilitation hospitals and complete kind of neurologic devastation.”

Given the significant risks, he advises parents against purchasing e-scooters for children, stressing, “They are not toys.”

Impact of Speed and User Experience

The rapid acceleration of e-scooters—reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h in seconds—adds to the danger, particularly for inexperienced riders. Rosenfield points out that many parents are unaware of the speed capabilities of these devices. Almost 90 percent of e-scooter injuries at SickKids involve teenage boys, most of whom are not wearing helmets. The data also highlighted an increase in injuries among children aged four to six riding with parents or older siblings.

Rosenfield advocates for helmet use, stating, “If you have speed plus head injury, a helmet will help mitigate those injuries every time.”

Pamela Fuselli, president and CEO of Parachute, an injury prevention charity, echoed these concerns. She noted that micro-mobility devices like e-scooters are less stable due to their small wheels. “Inexperience comes into play,” Fuselli cautioned. She encourages all users to wear helmets, adhere to road rules—including speed and alcohol limits—and respect other road users.

As regulations regarding e-scooter usage vary across Canada, Fuselli calls for enhanced enforcement to help prevent injuries. The rising trend of e-scooter-related incidents highlights the urgent need for public awareness and safety measures to protect riders and pedestrians alike.