Victorian children presenting to emergency departments at record rates as e-scooter and e-bike injuries surge over 900%

Victorian hospitals are treating a record number of children injured on e-scooters and e-bikes, with new data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit revealing a dramatic surge in incidents – prompting urgent safety warnings ahead of National Kidsafe Day on 5 March.

Kidsafe Victoria says the devices, often marketed as fun and accessible for young people, are in fact high-speed motorised vehicles capable of causing life-altering injuries and death.

In 2024/25, 719 Victorian children aged 2-18 presented to emergency departments due to e-scooter and e-bike injuries – a 67% and 61% increase respectively on the previous year. Over the past five years, emergency department presentations linked to e-scooters have surged by 1572%, while e-bike injuries have risen by 917%.

Alarmingly, nearly half (47%) of e-scooter injuries involve children aged 10-14 – despite Victorian law prohibiting riders under the age of 16. E-bike injuries are most common among teenagers aged 15-18, and boys account for the majority of cases on both devices – 71% of e-scooter injuries and 87% of e-bike injuries.

Kidsafe Victoria CEO Sarah Sexton said the figures show how quickly an emerging risk can escalate.

“These aren’t toys – they’re motorised vehicles capable of travelling at significant speeds,” Ms Sexton said.

“What concerns us is the gap between how these products are marketed and the reality we’re seeing in emergency departments. Families are being sold convenience and fun, but the injury data tells a very different story.”

For clinicians on the frontline, the pattern and severity of injuries is deeply concerning. Dr Adam West, Director of Paediatric Emergency Medicine at Monash Health, said emergency clinicians are seeing the consequences firsthand.

“Almost 300 children have been treated in our emergency departments in the last five years for injuries related to e-bike and e-scooter incidents. More than 80% of the patients were male, and the average age of the children was 13. We’re seeing a range of issues, from grazes, sprains and broken bones through to brain injuries and abdominal organ trauma. One in 10 kids are ending up on our wards, sometimes for weeks.”

“Kids aren’t just getting injured on roads and footpaths, they’re getting hurt on driveways and in their backyards,” said Dr West. “Wearing safety gear is essential, but doesn’t entirely mitigate the risk of these forms of transport.”

Under Victorian law, children under 16 are not permitted to ride e-scooters. Helmets are mandatory, speeds are capped at 20km/h, and riders cannot use footpaths. Yet Kidsafe Victoria says many families remain unaware of the legal requirements, and some devices sold online exceed permitted speed limits.

Ms Sexton said National Kidsafe Day would shine a spotlight on the rapidly growing issue and call for stronger safeguards.

“When hospital presentations increase by more than 1500% in five years, that’s not a minor trend – it’s a red flag,” she said. “We urgently need product design, marketing, retail messaging and road rules to tell the same story. At the moment, they don’t.”

Kidsafe Victoria is calling for improved regulation of high-powered and non-compliant devices entering Victoria, point-of-sale safety warnings, and restrictions on marketing that depicts riders who appear under 16 using adult-class scooters.

For parents and carers, the message is clear: check the law before you buy, ensure helmets are properly fitted, and understand that devices marketed with youth-friendly branding may not be legal or safe for children to use.

“As a parent, you would never knowingly hand your child the keys to a car,” Ms Sexton said. “But some of these devices can reach speeds capable of causing catastrophic injuries. Awareness is the first step to prevention.”

As a small independent charity, Kidsafe Victoria relies on community donations and corporate partnerships to respond to emerging risks like e-scooters and e-bikes, develop educational resources, and advocate for stronger safety standards.

National Kidsafe Day will be marked across Victoria on 5 March, with a focus on preventing serious injuries before they become lifelong tragedies.For safety information or to support the campaign, visit: https://www.kidsafevic.com.au/national-kidsafe-day/