Ask the Expert: What families should know about electric scooters

Stephen Fletcher, DO | Pediatric neurosurgeon and Dr. Marnie Rose Professor in Pediatric Neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

Welcome to "Ask the Expert," a UTHealth Houston newsroom series where our leading physicians examine pressing health challenges. In this edition, we address the safety of electric scooters. 

While electric scooters, bikes, and other electric mobility devices seem like a fun way to spend time outdoors, they can also lead to serious injuries and crashes for riders and pedestrians.

As e-scooters rise in popularity and more kids are outdoors this spring and summer, here’s what families, kids, and the public should know about scooter safety. 

Is it safe to ride an electric scooter? 

A typical electric scooter can travel at speeds between 10 and 20 miles per hour. The speed of these devices means that using them on public roads, where drivers may be inattentive and may not see individuals, creates a danger for riders. This is especially true at night and when drivers and e-scooter riders don’t know about right-of-way laws. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 16 abstain from riding electric scooters and other motorized devices. 

What types of injury are most common among e-scooter riders? 

Common injuries for these high-speed devices, besides the usual broken bones, can include abdominal injuries with bleeding that may require surgery. Head injuries and spine fractures are worrisome. Fractures of the spine with paralysis, often irreversible, may occur. Head injuries may include anything from concussions to severe injuries that can be fatal. Many of these spine and brain injuries can require extensive surgeries with obvious, permanent neurological deficits.

How can people ride e-scooters safely? 

The best way to protect yourself while riding an e-scooter or other device is to wear a helmet. Other tips to stay safe on e-scooters include: 

• Wear protective gear, including close-toed shoes: Elbow and knee pads, pants, long-sleeve shirts and proper footwear can help prevent cuts, scrapes, and bruises in a fall.  
• Eliminate distractions: Avoid wearing headphones or using your phone — focus on the road.
• Ride slow: Riding at high speeds gives drivers or others less time to react and can lead to more severe injuries.
• Follow traffic rules: Avoid riding on sidewalks and use bike lanes when possible. Announcing your presence to pedestrians can also help avoid crashes and injuries.

How can drivers and pedestrians stay safe around e-scooter riders? 

The better question is: How can riders of e-scooters and e-bikes keep from being seriously injured by larger vehicles? For all parties, similar safety rules apply: Avoid distractions, be aware of your surroundings, and familiarize yourself with right-of-way and other traffic rules. 

What should parents know before purchasing an electric scooter for their children?

Parents should understand that bodily injuries and loss of limbs are permanent. Head injuries are not reversible, and neither is death. Proper equipment, like helmets, and instruction is necessary.

Stephen Fletcher, DO | Pediatric neurosurgeon and Dr. Marnie Rose Professor in Pediatric Neurosurgery in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. All quotes should be attributed to him. 

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