New data from B.C. Children’s Hospital shows that an alarming number of e-scooter incidents involving youths have been on the rise in this past year.
This increase in e-scooter crashes have prompted B.C. health officials to issue a warning about scooter safety, especially for children.
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E-Scooter Crashes in B.C.
According to B.C. Children’s Hospital, between April 2025 and March 2026, 81 patients were treated in the emergency department with injuries related to e-scooter incidents. This is more than double as many as in the previous year. Moreover, 35% of those emergency visits had to do with fractures. 26% was for bruises and abrasions, and 17% was for concussions.
Provincial rules state that e-scooter riders are required to be at least 16 years old. In spite of that, B.C. Children’s Hospital says that 54% of emergency visits were from children aged 13 to 15.
Speed and not wearing a helmet are two of the biggest factors when concerning e-scooter injuries. Currently, the province has a limit of 25 km/h for electric kick scooters. But there are models that can go significantly faster than that. Dr. Shelina Babul, director of the hospital’s Injury Research and Prevention Unit, notes that off-market and online retailers are selling some models that can reach up to 40 km/h.
She recommends that your e-scooter has a bell, so as to warn people around you that you are passing them, and to only ever ride as a single rider. Don’t double up, don’t wear headphones, and don’t ride under the influence.
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