E-scooters 'three times riskier than motorcycles and bikes for traumatic injuries'

People who ride e-scooters face a higher risk of injuries to the brain and internal organs than cyclists or motorcyclists, a new study suggests.

Women e-scooter riders are also at a higher risk than men of being severely injured.

Data showed that - compared with motorcyclists - e-scooter users were 3.5 times likelier to suffer a traumatic brain injury, 1.5 times likelier to injure their internal organs, and 3.2 times likelier to injure their arteries or veins.

The risk was 1.7, 1.4 and 1.7 times higher respectively when compared with cyclists.

A team of experts led by surgeon David Bodansky made the findings after analysing data from 15,247 patients in the National Major Trauma Registry, including 580 e-scooter riders, more than 7,000 motorcyclists and 7,740 cyclists.

The study also found that more than one in 10 e-scooter riders were children, who were more likely to be injured.

Helmet use was documented in just 5.9% of e-scooter riders compared with around 75% of motorcyclists and 45% of cyclists.

However, fracture risk for e-scooter riders was 20% lower than for motorcyclists and 10% lower than for cyclists.

E-scooters are available to rent as part of government trial schemes in cities such as Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, and a number of London boroughs.

But it is presently illegal to use privately-owned e-scooters in public.

Nonetheless, researchers say they "are increasingly used" across the UK - but there is limited evidence about "injury patterns, severity and exposure-adjusted risk".

Collisions and near misses

The team separately analysed more than 23,000 self-reported e-scooter collisions and near misses.

This showed that men had a 36% lower risk of crashing than women - with women 2.1 times more likely to be severely injured.

Looking at both sets of data "revealed previously under-explored trends" and socioeconomic factors, researchers said, such as incidents being more common in deprived regions.

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The findings come as the latest Department for Transport figures showed there were 1,312 collisions involving e-scooters in 2024.

Researchers said: "Embedding rigorous public health evidence into forthcoming UK legislation will be critical to ensure that the benefits of micromobility are realised while minimising avoidable harm."

Fire concerns

Concerns over the fire safety of some e-scooters has also been raised, with figures suggesting that e-bike and e-scooter fires reached a record high last year.

There were 147 e-scooter fires reported during 2025 - up 20% from the 123 seen in 2024.

These incidents are often caused by failing batteries, conversion kits, and chargers.

Fires involving lithium batteries used for e-bikes and e-scooters can spread rapidly and produce a toxic vapour.

Electrical Safety First has warned this issue is "swiftly becoming a runaway train that needs to be stopped" - with incidents surging over the past five years.

The new study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

(c) Sky News 2026: E-scooters 'three times riskier than motorcycles and bikes for traumatic injuries'