E-scooter injuries are on the rise in Canada, with pediatricians and emergency physicians warning about the increasing severity of incidents, particularly among younger individuals, as regulations struggle to keep up. 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 witnessed a significant surge in various types of e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor cuts to major brain trauma and fatalities.
Previously rare, severe injuries are now more frequent, with a noticeable uptick in e-scooter injury cases at hospitals. At SickKids, cases rose from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and spiked to 107 in 2025, indicating a concerning trend that is likely to continue. Similarly, the Montreal Children’s Hospital has seen a tenfold increase in e-scooter injuries since 2023, with children sustaining severe facial and brain injuries in accidents not involving other vehicles.
A recent CPS survey revealed alarming statistics from Canadian pediatric specialists, documenting 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations of more than two days due to e-scooter crashes in the past year, with head injuries prevalent in about half of the cases. Dr. Rosenfield emphasized that the majority of these incidents involved individuals not wearing helmets, with the most severe injuries often affecting boys aged between 10 and 15.
Echoing these concerns, a study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal highlighted a similar trend in the U.K., where e-scooter-related hospital cases surged from under 10 in 2019 to nearly 150 in 2024, with head injuries being particularly severe and helmet usage below two percent among the injured.
One poignant example from London, Ont., illustrates the devastating impact of e-scooter accidents. Crystal Dunkley recounted her son Shaun’s harrowing experience, where a high-speed collision resulted in a fractured skull and a coma lasting over a week. Shaun’s remarkable recovery after weeks of intensive care underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations and public awareness regarding e-scooter safety.
Dr. Rosenfield stressed the misconception of e-scooters as toys, emphasizing their potential dangers given their speed capabilities. The CPS survey also highlighted issues with existing regulations, noting inconsistencies and a lack of clarity in rules across provinces and territories, contributing to the rising number of e-scooter accidents involving young individuals unaware of safety protocols.
Efforts are underway to address these challenges, with calls for enhanced public education, clearer regulations, and stricter enforcement to mitigate the risks associated with e-scooter use. While recognizing the benefits of e-scooters in urban transportation, experts emphasize the critical need to prioritize safety measures to prevent further tragedies and ensure responsible usage of these vehicles.
