Scots parents warned against gifting e-scooters after spate of serious injuries

Parents in Scotland have been warned against buying e-scooters for their children amid a spate of serious injuries.

More than 30 children needed emergency care at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow between May and October this year, up from four cases during the same period of 2024.

Injuries suffered by children this year included major head trauma, broken femurs, chest injuries, and severe lacerations, with some as young as seven years old treated by doctors.

It is illegal for under-14s to ride e-bikes in Scotland, while privately-owned e-scooters cannot be used legally on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, or in other public spaces.

Mark Bain, who owns an e-scooter business, told STV News that, due to a lack of legislation in the UK, there are no restrictions on speed, despite millions of people using them every day.

Medics have seen brain and head injuries caused by e-scooters STV News

Christina Harry, Paediatric Intensive Care consultant at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, urged parents to think carefully before purchasing one for their child.

“We can see head injuries and brain injuries”, she explained.

“They’re the ones that are really concerning for us, but we can also see any type of injury depending on the impact and how it has been.

“So you can see facial injuries, abdominal injuries, limb injuries, particularly things like lacerations, fractures.

“Some of them require inpatient stays and surgical interventions. My message would be to think really carefully about purchasing these because they are dangerous.”

Police in Glasgow have seized more than 200 e-scooters in the last six months.

Police inspector Ryan Curran added: “These devices are classified legally as vehicles and as such require a licence, insurance and registration.

“‘Gift today, seized tomorrow’, is literally what could happen.

“Since April, we have seized 225 e-scooters. We have seen a pattern of an increasing number of incidents involving e-scooters, both on their own and when coming into collision with motor vehicles.”

Officers say the devices are legally classified as vehicles and require a licence, insurance and registration.