The use of e-scooters is becoming more prevalent in Canada, with experts cautioning about a surge in injuries, particularly among young individuals, as regulations struggle to keep up. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto and head of the injury prevention committee for the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), has observed a significant increase in various e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities.
Previously rare, serious injuries are now more frequent, with a notable rise in e-scooter injury cases at SickKids, increasing from 26 cases in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025. Dr. Rosenfield anticipates a further increase in injuries this year.
At the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Dr. Laurie Plotnick, leading the hospital’s emergency trauma team, noted a tenfold increase in e-scooter injuries since 2023. Children sustaining injuries without involvement with other vehicles have suffered significant facial trauma, including broken jaws and eye socket fractures, with severe brain injuries also reported.
A recent CPS survey revealed alarming statistics, documenting 10 fatalities, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations exceeding two days due to e-scooter accidents over the past year, with head injuries prevalent in about half of the cases. Most of the injured individuals were not wearing helmets.
The data from Canada aligns with a study in the UK, showing a substantial rise in e-scooter incidents at hospitals in Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield, indicating a lack of helmet usage among the injured. The most severe injuries often involve boys aged between 10 and 15 years.
The personal experience of Canadian families echoes these trends. Crystal Dunkley recounted her son Shawn’s e-scooter accident in London, Ontario, where he sustained a fractured skull after colliding with a raccoon at a reported speed of 69 kilometers per hour, resulting in a coma and critical care unit admission.
Dr. Rosenfield emphasizes the misconception of e-scooters as toys, emphasizing their speed capabilities and the need for enhanced regulations and public awareness. The CPS survey highlights the lack of clarity in existing rules and laws, contributing to the rise in e-scooter injuries among youth due to their developmental stage and limited risk awareness.
Efforts for public education, parental awareness, and stricter enforcement are deemed crucial by experts to mitigate e-scooter-related injuries. While advocating for safer e-scooter practices, Dr. Rosenfield underscores the importance of finding a balance between e-scooter usage for urban mobility and ensuring safety measures are in place.