Police in Derry warned of the dangers of electric scooters as experts report accidents involving the vehicles are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among children at Temple Street in Dublin.

“E-scooters might seem like the perfect present, but if they're used in the wrong place, they can cause real problems.

"They're not toys, they're treated as motor vehicles and must meet the same legal standards as any other vehicle,” police at Strand Road.

The warning coincides with a new report by the Faculty of Paediatrics at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI).

Police in Derry warned of the dangers of electric scooters as experts report accidents involving the vehicles are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among children at Temple Street in Dublin.

placeholder image — Police in Derry warned of the dangers of electric scooters as experts report accidents involving the vehicles are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among children at Temple Street in Dublin.

‘E-scooter Falls and Brain Injuries in Children: Call for Action in Ireland’ found that e-scooter accidents are now the leading cause of TBI in children admitted to the paediatric neurosurgical centre at Children’s Health Ireland, Temple Street.

Dr. Irwin Gill, Fellow of the Faculty of Paediatrics and author of the paper, said: “We are seeing an unprecedented rise in brain injuries caused by e-scooters. If we don’t act now, this trend will continue with devastating results for children and their families across Ireland.”

In the North e-scooters, scramblers, go-peds, buzz boards, quads and mini-motos do not generally comply with construction and use legislation and vehicle standards so are therefore, restricted to off-road use only, police advise.

If used on the road a rider requires the following:

A driving licence from age 16 (minimum Category AM).
At least third party insurance for road use.
Have the vehicle registered with the DVLNI and display a number plate.
Have a Vehicle Excise Licence when used on the road.
Have obligatory lamps, reflectors and rear markings fitted.
Fulfil all requirements in accordance with the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1999.
A protective helmet in some cases (although the wearing of a helmet in all situations is recommended for personal safety).

In the 26 counties e-scooters became legal on Irish roads in May 2024 for those aged 16 and over.

According to the RCPI e-scooter-related presentations at CHI Emergency Departments doubled between May 2024-2025 and have continued to increase since.

The RCPI report contains some alarming findings including the following:

Almost half of children admitted with TBI required neurosurgical interventions and ICU admission.

Forty percent of neurosurgical and ICU admissions had new issues with movement, 80% had new difficulties with cognition.
The mean length of stay for patients admitted to Temple Street was 18.7 days – nearly identical to the length of stay from being struck by a moving car, and five times longer than the length of stay from falling from a bike.
Many injuries were sustained at high speeds above the legal limit 20km/h.
Most children severely injured were not wearing helmets.
Most families reported being unaware of the 16 year limit.

RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics Dean Dr Judith Meehan added: “We’re urging parents not to buy e-scooters for their children this Christmas. Children under 16 are not permitted to operate or be carried as a passenger on e-scooters.

"Our hope is that this paper will raise awareness of the rules around e-scooter use and the dangers for children and young people who use them.”

In Derry, the PSNI said: “Our priority is safety. Please make sure any e-scooter use is legal and responsible so everyone can enjoy a safe and happy Christmas.”