Calls for E-Scooter Age Limit After Report Shows Extent of Child Injuries

A new report is calling for the minimum age for riding e-scooters to be increased in Queensland.

E-scooters being ridden in Brisbane. AAP Image/Jono Searle

A newly released report is calling for a minimum age of 16 for riding e-scooters, following an analysis at one Queensland hospital that revealed the physical risks faced by children.

The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on June 3, analysed data from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, where 176 child e-scooter injuries were recorded for the emergency department from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2024.

The study only relied upon e-scooter incidents, excluding push scooters.

The median age of the patients was 14 and 71 percent were male.

Most injuries resulted from falls (78 percent), while 13 percent involved motor vehicles.

Notably, 42 percent of children were not wearing helmets, and 12 percent were carrying another rider. 36 percent had been travelling at speeds of more than 25km/h—more than twice the accepted speed for travelling on footpaths.

A man walks past a row of electric scooters for hire in Perth, Western Australia, on March 18, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

When it came to injuries, broken bones were reported in 37 percent of incidents, while 18 percent required CT scans, and 11 percent involved life-threatening or potentially life-threatening injuries.

In Queensland, the law stipulates that children aged 12-15 must be supervised by an accompanying adult on a separate device. In other states, minimum ages range from 16 to 18.

The report notes that despite increasing e-scooter use, and increasing subsequent injuries, there isn’t enough data about children to help strengthen current legislation.

Lead author Matthew Clanfield, who also works at Sunshine Coast University hospital, said e-scooter crashes were the cause behind one in 30 emergency room visits for young people, and said it was previously rare to see so many youngsters, who are usually generally healthy.

“While working at the hospital we would see a child or teen attend the emergency department with e-scooter injury every few days,” he said.

“The types of injuries ranged from minor fractures and injuries, through to traumatic brain injuries requiring a craniotomy.

“A lot of the parents attending were extremely upset to see their child hospitalised and weren’t aware how risky e-scooters can be or the legal requirement for supervision under 16.”

State Inquiry Launched

The findings come just a month after Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced a Parliamentary Inquiry into e-mobility safety in the state.

The move was prompted by a 112 percent rise in injury cases from 2021 to 2024, with eight recorded deaths in the past year.

The inquiry will set out to determine the benefits of e-scooters, safety risks, the appropriateness of current rules and stakeholder perspectives.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the inquiry hoped to hear from everyone including community members, health and trauma experts, academia and industry.

“The increase in injuries and deaths we are seeing because of unsafe and unlawful riding cannot be ignored and I share the community’s concern,” he said.