Dangers of e-scooters for under 16s highlighted in new campaign
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) have launched a powerful new advertising campaign urging parents and guardians not to buy e-scooters for children under the age of 16 this Christmas.
The campaign highlights the very real and devastating consequences of underage e-scooter use, which is illegal on public roads and dangerous.
E-scooters are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in children admitted to CHI at Temple Street, Ireland’s national neurosurgical centre.
The new radio advertisement, voiced by Dr Irwin Gill, Consultant Paediatrician at CHI, shares a stark message drawn directly from his experience treating young patients with severe head injuries caused by e-scooter collisions and falls.
“I work with many teams across our hospitals to look after children who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.
“In the last year alone, we’ve seen more than 20 children who sustained serious brain injuries after falling from e-scooters. The average hospital stay for these children was 19 days, and some face lifelong consequences.
"Many parents don’t realise it’s illegal for anyone under 16 to ride an e-scooter on a public road. As someone who sees injured children far too often, I’m asking parents: please do not allow any child under sixteen to ride an e-scooter," Dr Gill said.
Recent RSA research has revealed growing public concern around the safety of e-scooters in Ireland. One in three regular users admit to riding on footpaths, where use is prohibited, and more than one in ten report carrying child passengers, while almost one in ten carry adult passengers. Nearly one in four regular e-scooter riders (24%) say they have been involved in a collision, while one in three (32%) have experienced a near miss.
Since the introduction of e-scooter legislation in May 2024, hospitals have seen a worrying rise in serious injuries among young riders.
E-scooter-related brain injuries now account for over 25% of paediatric neurosurgical admissions in CHI at Temple Street in the past year. Around half of these children required intensive care, and almost half underwent emergency neurosurgery, with some left with permanent disabilities.
The RSA and CHI are calling on parents, guardians, and communities to share this message and to prioritise children’s safety this Christmas and beyond.
You can view the new radio advert at https://www.rsa.ie/road-safety/campaigns/e-scooters