RACV and Royal Melbourne Hospital research shows 26 per cent of injured e-scooter riders are under 16

An RACV-funded study into e-scooter and e-bike injuries has revealed that 26 per cent of e-scooter riders who were injured and treated by Victorian ambulance and hospital services were under 16 and riding illegally.

The multicentre Victorian study, led by the Royal Melbourne Hospital with support from RACV, examined 644 injuries involving e-scooters and e-bikes across ambulance services and five emergency departments between November 2025 and May 2026.

The research found 133 injured e-scooter riders, or 26 per cent of 482 e-scooter cohort, were under 16 years of age – the age legally required for e-scooter use.

The youngest rider was three years old and the oldest was 83. Three-quarters of the riders were male.

RACV has issued a plea to parents to be aware of the laws surrounding e-scooters and the risks they pose, as well as encouraging Victoria Police to be vigilant in upholding these laws.

The study also highlighted the significant burden these injuries place on Victoria’s health system. Among people treated at participating hospitals, 92 per cent required medical imaging, 30 per cent were admitted directly to a surgical ward, four per cent required intensive care and 58 per cent of admitted patients underwent surgery.

Thirty-five people, representing five per cent of injured riders, sustained severe, potentially life-threatening injuries and one death was recorded.

RACV funded the study to strengthen the evidence base around e-scooter and e-bike safety and will continue to advocate to government on education and awareness measures that improve safety outcomes for Victorian road users. The report identifies opportunities for further investigation, including improved injury surveillance, greater understanding of the role of device speed, and continued focus on preventing head and facial injuries.

RACV Head of Public Policy James Williams said the findings demonstrated e-scooter and e-bike injuries were a serious road safety issue requiring close attention from policymakers.

"This research provides one of the clearest pictures yet of the impact e-scooter and e-bike injuries are having on Victorian families and our healthcare system," Mr Williams said.

"Particularly concerning is that a third of injured riders captured in the study were children and adolescents. Given the rules and age restrictions that apply to many of these devices, this finding highlights the need to better understand how and why younger Victorians are being injured. The message to children and parents is clear: e-scooters are not a toy.

"The findings show these crashes can result in serious consequences, including hospital admissions, surgery, intensive care treatment and significant costs for injured riders and their families.

“RACV is calling on all parents and guardians to ensure they are aware of the laws surrounding e-scooters and for Victoria Police to monitor and continue to enforce those laws.”

The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Director of Emergency Medical Research and Emergency Physician A/Prof Elyssia Bourke said the research confirmed what emergency health care workers know from caring for these injured riders - the consequences of e-mobility crashes extend well beyond minor injuries.

"While many people associate e-scooter and e-bike crashes with relatively minor incidents, our study found a substantial number of patients required significant medical care," Ms Bourke said. 

"We recorded serious injuries affecting multiple parts of the body, including head and facial injuries, and found that many patients needed advanced imaging, hospital admission and surgery.

"Importantly, this study establishes a strong evidence base to better understand injury patterns and identify opportunities to prevent future harm."

The types of injuries recorded in the study and the proportion impacted included:

Head injury was recorded in 26 per cent of e-scooter cases compared with 16 per cent of e-bike cases.

The research also found that e-mobility injuries have wider impacts on Victorians. Half of surveyed adults reported taking time off work following their injury, while nearly half reported out-of-pocket expenses associated with their crash. Those who incurred costs reported average expenses of approximately $600.

Among the key risk factors recorded among the injured were lack of protective gear at 61 per cent, a maximum speed greater than 25km/h at 23 per cent and lack of helmet at 24 per cent.